Modifying a Rabbit Hutch for Quail

At last, some sunshine! This has awakened a little productive spirit in me and I have cracked on with my quail preparations by finishing the hutch refurbishments & alterations.

Formerly a rabbit hutch, a few modifications were needed to make it suitable for quail. Firstly, it needed a good scrubbing out and disinfecting.  I have previously used this as an isolation wing for my hens so this was particularly important.  Next I took down the partly-chewed dividing wall as this won't be necessary for quail.  As bunnies enjoy a dark sleeping area, the door on the left was solid wood, but my quails will enjoy more light so I replaced this with wire mesh.  The hutch looked a bit dull, so after perusing all the wood treatment options I chose one that would add a splash of colour, something like sea grass I think.  The roof was a little tired and had showed signs of leakage so I replaced the felting with a kindly donated off-cut.  Finally I added the cabin hook latches to enable me to open the doors independently of each other, and also to stop them being pushed inwards.  It is now ready to become the new residence of a small family of quail. Roll on hatch day...

In which it is found Quail eggs are incredibly difficult to candle...

One of my favourite activities is sitting in a dark room, clutching my 'egg torch' and checking for signs of life inside those little shells.  Tonight I've discovered two of my Quail eggs are probably clears (that is, they are infertile) and ten of them might not be. Thats as good as it gets. They are fiddly little buggers to handle, and because of their dark mottled pattern and fairly thick shell almost impossible to see through.  So now all I can do is wait. I'm not going to handle them any more as I don't think it does them any favours, and to be honest I don't think it will tell me much more.  I'm slightly concerned about one which looked vaguely like it had a blood ring, I really don't want any bad eggs going explosive on me (or on them more like!).  I might have to re-check that one in a couple of days and if in doubt, chuck it out - better to lose one possible viable chick than all twelve.

At last, some hatching eggs

I finally decided I'd waited long enough for bad weather & winter to pass and ordered some hatching quail eggs. They are currently cooking nicely in the Brinsea Mini Advance. So far, so good. Last year, I hatched 3 out of 10 mixed hybrid layers. For my first attempt I was quite pleased. I'm hoping for a few more this year as I have altered several factors. Firstly, the mini advance is automatic, so eggs get turned more frequently, including through the night, and at regular intervals. Secondly, I'm trying much harder to leave well alone!  I remember the first time I candled the hens eggs last year & the absolute delight at seeing those tiny embryos dancing around inside the shell - it was pure magic.  Well, once I had seen that it was all too tempting to have another look, & retrospectively I probably did this far too often. I'm sure at one point I had at least 7 live in the shells.  Tonight I will attempt to candle the quail eggs & see whats going on, and after that I will sit on my hands...

The moult begins ...

It must be that time of year again. Molly, my dear old bird has no tail and a bald neck: moulting season.  Having been through this before I know it won't last, and while she looks almost oven-ready at the moment, in a few months she should be back to her finery.  The younger birds don't seem to have started yet, and I think this year's two hatchlings may not this year. 
Molly is now in her fifth winter, and each year the moult seems to be worse - I wonder if this is common in adult birds? Maybe the older they get the more feathers they need to re-new each year.  At least it is still surprisingly warm at the moment, and Molly won't get too chilly while she's transforming. Lets enjoy the weather while it lasts - it probably won't be long beofre the chill factor really sets in.
If this is your first time experiencing a chicken moult, here are a few tips to help your girls get through the worst:
1) Poultry Spice - I only use this during the colder months when the girls really seem to need a 'pick-me-up'. Just add it to their pellets each day.

2) Apple Cider Vinegar - this is supposed to be good for all sorts of ailments, including being a natural wormer. I use this in the winter for maybe a couple of weeks at a time but always make sure I have plain drinking water available for them too.

3) Porridge - there's nothing my girls like better than a dish of hot porridge on a chilly morning! I only make it with water & ordinary porridge oats but they go mad for it & it seems to give them a real boost.

4) Shut up the house - if you're lucky enough to have a secure run that allows you to leave the hen-house door open all summer, then this one is for you. Make a special effort to close them up in the winter months to keep in the warmth their bodies create.

And finally, a word of caution: foxes are rife this time of year. I have learned this the hard way, each time I've lost birds to Mr Fox it has been during the Autumn. If you haven't seen him around all summer & have got a bit complacent, now's the time to up your security before its too late.