Breeding quails is a rather profitable direction in the farm, since this type of bird has enviable indicators of meatiness and egg production. At the same time, the products are distinguished by their excellent taste. Already today, quail is a big competitor to chickens. Many farmers are switching to this bird, because it is unpretentious and cost-effective. However, for beginners, due to a lack of experience and knowledge, some problems arise with its breeding. To fill the gaps in the missing information, this article will detail the features of care and maintenance of quail at home.
general information
Breeding any domestic animals has its own characteristics and is associated with some chores. The holder must take into account many nuances regarding proper feeding, optimal microclimate, daylight hours, the fight against various diseases, etc. As for quails, rearing and caring for this bird will not take much time and effort. That is why most experienced farmers recommend that beginners start with this representative of the partridge family.
If the technology is observed, even in a small farm, it is possible to contain up to 50 goals in a cage measuring just one square meter without any problems. This is more than enough not only to provide your family with quality meat and eggs, but also make good money from selling them. But for quail care to be as simple as possible, a number of criteria need to be considered. The key ones are:
- air temperature;
- light level;
- optimal cell size;
- feeding regimen;
- landing density;
- conditions of detention.
Next will be described in more detail about each aspect of the content and care of home quail.
Room requirements
So what do you need to know about this? The arrangement of the chicken coop should be approached thoroughly. It must meet certain characteristics in order to make it easier to maintain an optimal microclimate. The room should be warm and without drafts so that the bird does not get sick. You should also take care of good ventilation. If the air stagnates, then over time a stagnant unpleasant odor will appear, which will be very difficult to remove.
Care and maintenance of quail is associated with only one difficulty. The thing is that this bird is particularly shy. Therefore, it is very important to protect it from any external stimuli and stressful situations. Even a small noise and sudden movements can negatively affect the emotional state of the bird, as a result of which its productivity will drop significantly.
Temperature mode
Even for beginning farmers, quail care does not cause any particular problems. The bird is not too capricious, so there is no need to create non-specific conditions for it. It feels good at an air temperature of 18 to 25 degrees, so there is no need to create additional heating even in the cold season. If the room is too hot, then the quail begins to molt, which negatively affects their health. It is forbidden to allow the temperature to drop below 8 degrees. Subcooling can lead to the death of the entire livestock.
Lighting
This aspect should be given special attention. Hatched chicks need artificial light 24 hours a day, so you will need to hang a lamp in their place of residence. But there is one important nuance. Too bright lighting negatively affects egg production. Also, white ambient light lamps cannot be used. They increase the aggressiveness of quail, and they begin to peck each other. For adults, the daylight hours should be at least 14 hours. Subject to these recommendations, quail care and breeding will be as productive and profitable as possible.
Diet
Let's dwell on this in more detail. As noted earlier, quail will not cause any problems for beginner farmers. Care and feeding also do not require large financial costs, since this species of bird in the wild eats almost everything it can find. But in order to achieve rapid weight gain and high egg production, it is necessary to take into account some nuances.
Some breeders achieve good results when feeding combined feeds, while others use crushed grain as the basis. About 25 g of food is required per adult adult, actively laying eggs. And on average, about one kilogram of feed takes to feed the chick. Mixtures can be prepared independently, but experienced specialists recommend buying ready-made ones. Better to choose those in which 20 percent is protein. In addition, the daily diet of quail must contain:
- millet;
- crushed corn;
- bone flour;
- boiled and chopped vegetables;
- fresh greens.
So that the bird does not have any problems with the digestive system, experts advise mixing a little sand into the feed. If you provide the quails with good nutrition, they will grow strong and healthy, therefore they will never be sick and will carry a large number of eggs.
Arrangement of premises
In order not to spend a lot of time and effort on caring for quail at home, before purchasing the first chicks, you must first prepare the chicken coop and create suitable conditions in it. It is best to keep the bird in spacious cages providing a good level of illumination. It is not necessary that they be too large, because a small-sized bird is able to coexist normally in tight clusters. Assume that there should be no more than 6 layers per square meter. If the density is too high, the bird will peck at each other.
Mode and features of feeding
Quail care itself is uncomplicated, which cannot be said about the competent menu planning and the preparation of a nutrition program. It must be balanced so that the bird receives all the vitamins and minerals necessary for high egg production. It is possible to determine that feeds are improperly selected or that quails lack something by shelling eggs. If it is thin and fragile, then the diet needs to be adjusted. You should not overfeed the bird, as this species is prone to overeating. Obesity can not only negatively affect egg production, but also completely cause a decrease to zero.
In the process of keeping be sure to pay attention to the quail droppings. Its structure will help determine how correctly selected feed. If it is solid and plaque, then you did everything right, and the bird receives a full and high-quality nutrition. The development of diarrhea may indicate the presence of any disease or an inappropriate diet.
Chick Care
The content of young and adult individuals has certain differences. The first thing you need to make sure is that females hatch eggs. If you notice that some quails do not fit them, then you should use an incubator. However, this happens extremely rarely, so in most cases the chicks will hatch naturally.
Care for quail in the first days of life is carried out separately from the rest of the livestock. It is recommended to keep newborn chicks in brooders, which can be purchased at any specialized store. During the first month of life of young animals, it is necessary to maintain the ambient temperature at the level of 35 degrees Celsius, after which it is possible to lower the bar to 22-25 ° C.
Young quail begin to eat on their own from the first day of life. You only need to equip the feeder with low edges in the cage and put a special vacuum drinking bowl. The menu must include cottage cheese, finely chopped fresh herbs, boiled and then chopped chicken eggs. You can also use industrial balanced feed mixtures.
Conclusion to the main livestock
Chicks grow to the size of adults in about 14 days, however, it is better to separate them by sex no earlier than after a month. If you provide quality nutrition and proper care for quails, they will quickly gain weight. It will be possible to release chicks to the rest of the livestock already 2 weeks after hatching, but for them it will be necessary to put separate containers with warm boiled water. Otherwise, a high probability of developing various diseases and problems with the digestive system.
Disease prevention
According to experienced breeders and specialists, quail chicks usually die 4-7 days after they hatch from eggs. The main reason is poor nutrition and poor living conditions. In addition, if young animals do not receive enough nutrients, then they can develop various diseases, which, in turn, will lead to death. To provide the chicks with vitamins and minerals, carrots, young nettle leaves, freshly cut grass and specialized vitamin complexes are included in the daily menu. But with the latter you should also not be too zealous, since hypervitaminosis can also cause the development of many deadly pathologies.
To reduce the likelihood of death of the brood, it is necessary to regularly clean and disinfect the room, as well as replace the litter. There is no point in vaccination, because quail is one of the few bird species that is highly resistant to infections. It is periodically recommended to solder the chicks with rice broth. It improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and reduces the risk of developing diseases associated with it.
Conclusion
Breeding quails is a very profitable and not particularly time-consuming task that not only provides you with tasty and healthy meat and eggs, but also allows you to make good money selling finished products. The main thing is to provide the bird with good nutrition and good living conditions. How to do this was described in detail in this article. Follow general tips and tricks, and you will certainly be able to create a profitable quail farm.