Here is a basic overview for raising your chicks.
Brooding: The
chicks must be started at 98 degrees F. for at least 3 days. your brooder should be turned on the day before your
chicks are scheduled to arrive. if you don't have a commercial brooder we recommend one red (250 watt) heat
lamp for up to 250 quail chicks or 175 chukar chicks. it should be hung 14 inches above the floor, very securely, if the building
is not draft free run a draft shield around the floor in an oblong circle ( keep in mind they will start to fly in about
10 days). you can get the light and draft shield at your feed store.
Feed
& Water: give your chicks warm water for the first week or any time, in the brooding cycle, that
they should accidentley run out of water. Keep feed and water in front of them at all times. If you use standard baby chick
water founts you should put gravel or marbles in the base to keep the chicks from getting in the water and getting wet.
Feed your chicks "Turkey Starter" for the first 6 weeks. the texture
should be like coffee grounds for the first few days. (you can use a rolling pin or two bricks if you need to reduce
the size of the crumbles).
Things to avoid: overheating-
be sure your chicks can get away from the heat if they want to.
Drowning- be
sure the chicks can not become soaked in the waterers (use gravel) for the first couple of days. A ring of garden hose
will work providing it does not slip out.
Spraddle legs: do not put the chicks
on a slipprey surface, like newspaper. Use chopped straw, pine shavings or burlap.
SPACE: Chukar Chicks - 3 chicks per square foot up to 6 weeks old, 2 sq. feet per bird after that.
Quail is 6 chicks per square foot up to six weeks old and 1 sq. foot per bird after that.
We
will add more tips to this soon.
