Set Up a Draft-Free Brooder with Heat Source

Prepare a brooder using a plastic tote, cardboard box, or commercial brooder unit. Line it with paper towels initially (switch to pine shavings after a few days), install a heat lamp or radiant heat plate, and position it away from drafts. Maintain a warm zone of 95°F (35°C) directly under the heat source so chicks can move closer or farther away to self-regulate.

Why It Works

Quail chicks cannot regulate body temperature for their first few weeks of life. A draft-free enclosure with a dedicated heat zone mimics the warmth a broody hen would provide, preventing hypothermia and stress-related mortality. Heat plates are safer than lamps because they eliminate the fire risk associated with bulb-style fixtures.

Tips

• Secure heat lamps with a clamp and safety chain to prevent falls and fire hazards
• Avoid cedar shavings — the aromatic oils are toxic to quail chicks
• Place a thermometer at chick level to verify the temperature in the warm zone