Raising quails is no more complicated and laborious than breeding any other poultry. In addition, they are fast growing and highly productive. It is possible to keep quails in small quantities even in a city apartment.
It is necessary
- - small-sized household incubator;
- - cardboard or plywood box, bird cages or terrarium can be;
- - grid;
- - clean paper;
- - heater;
- - feed for young animals.
Instructions
Step 1
Purchase or make a small-sized household incubator. Young animals on farms are removed by artificial incubation, since domesticated quails have lost their incubation instinct. Manufactured devices are usually too large for the needs of hobby poultry breeders. A homemade incubator is preferable in this case. It is not difficult to make it. For this purpose, a cardboard packing box, an old hive, or an unnecessary case of a broken refrigerator are suitable. There are many designs of homemade incubators. Finding them is easy enough.
Step 2
Place the newly hatched quails in a prepared cardboard or plywood box. For a small brood of 20-30 heads, a regular parcel is quite suitable. For 100 quails, its dimensions should be at least 30x30cm. Line the crates with clean paper. On top of it, fix a mesh with a mesh size of 5x5mm. This will prevent “splitting” - the legs moving around in the newly hatched chicks. Replace paper as it gets dirty. Small bird cages or terrariums can also be used.
Step 3
Ensure that the temperature is maintained as the young are very sensitive to temperature changes. The room should be dry and warm - 27-28 degrees. Use heat up to seven days of age. To do this, divide the cage with a mesh partition. In one half of it, install heating elements from incubators or lamps with reflectors. The temperature under the heater should be 35-36 degrees. Provide fresh air, which, however, should not be accompanied by drafts.
Step 4
Quails begin to feed from the very first hours of life. Since they grow very quickly, they need feed with a high content of vitamins, minerals, and protein. Feed the chicks cottage cheese sprinkled with breadcrumbs, chopped eggs, chopped herbs, feed for the young.
Step 5
Pay attention to the lighting. For the first 7 days, it should be around the clock. Then weekly it is reduced by 3 hours and by the age of one and a half months it is brought to 12 hours a day.
Step 6
If you do not want to engage in quail breeding with your own hands, purchase young animals from any farm. For rearing, select mobile, firmly standing chicks. Prepare cardboard or plywood boxes for shipping. Make ventilation holes in them. You can transport 80-100 quails in each box.
