Top Tips for Brooding Quail

2. Transition your quail chicks outside slowly

Because quail mature so quickly, they’re generally fully feathered by 5-6 weeks of age and can handle outdoor temperatures around that time. However, if the weather is nice and daytime temperatures are appropriate, you can let your quail spend time in their outdoor hutch before they’re fully feathered if you want to. Alternatively, if you order your quail chicks during a very warm season, they can usually transition outside a bit faster. 

Here is a good rule of thumb to follow for their required temperatures: 

• 2 weeks: 90F
• 3 weeks: 85F
• 4 weeks: 80F
• 5-6 weeks: Room temperature or unheated if fully feathered and weather is above 65F

If your temperatures are particularly chilly, give your quail some extra time before transitioning them outside. If this is the case, we recommend letting them spend time in your outdoor hutch during the day and bringing them back inside to the brooder with no supplemental heat to help the transition from brooder to hutch go more smoothly.