Troubleshoot my chicks:

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Twoandhelp

Twoandhelp

Chirping
Apr 7, 2015
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I've got a batch of chicks that are 2.5 weeks old. Starting just before the 2 weeks old, I lost one bird three days in a row and lost another yesterday. The birds that are dying are smaller- are they getting bullied? Maybe just genetically weak? Should I give them antibiotics?

Also- this is my second batch of quail babies that has ended up with one of the chicks with a tilted neck. Like it just hangs over like it's broke. Still eats grows and runs but hangs over. Vitamin deficiency? Bonked?
 
Most times its something happening in the brooder. Whats the floor temp under the light? How many birds in how much space? Are you cleaning it out daily? Are they able to get water on their feathers from the font?
 
I think it could because of the bad hatching condition so you start with weak chicks. Some of the weak chicks will have feet and neck problems, some will die with no reason. Did the chicks hatched in 16-18 days? How is the humidity level during incubating?
 
Also, you will get some weak chicks if there are not enough air flow during last 3 days of incubation. Still air incubator will more likely give you weak chicks.
 
Last edited:
You know what- now that you say all that- the guy who hatched these out had put in almost 70 eggs and only 27 hatched, 4 were quite deformed and died quickly. So maybe something with that batch of eggs. I'm probably having the same thing happen. Set 48 eggs, this is the end of 17th day and don't even see a pip. My other hatches have been done by now. Hmmm. We'll see. And thanks- The hatching thing sounds right. I have a quail waterer so they don't get wet, constant food, I keep it clean and they have plenty of room. Some are just much smaller than the others- we'll see what happens with them!
 
I hatch many quail using my little giant incubator, my hatching rate range from 30% to 90%, so the eggs are good. The 30% low hatching rate is because temperature is too low, result few chicks and weak chicks. If chicks is hatching day 18 or 19, likely some quail is weak.
It's possible you have problem eggs, but more likely it's your hatching temperature too low or not enough air flow.
 
tom8301 said:
I hatch many quail using my little giant incubator, my hatching rate range from 30% to 90%, so the eggs are good. The 30% low hatching rate is because temperature is too low, result few chicks and weak chicks. If chicks is hatching day 18 or 19, likely some quail is weak.
It's possible you have problem eggs, but more likely it's your hatching temperature too low or not enough air flow.
Click to expand...


Ok I can't say for the other hatch since someone else did it, but I think what you're saying here is what happened with my most recent hatch. Had 5 hatch today (day 18) and 2 have the sad little feet. My incubator is plastic and has a fan- last time it hatched out 35/48 but I only have 5/48 this time. I'm wondering if I need to insulate it with a towel since its plastic. We have a ton of birds so just 5 baby quail are kind of a pain to keep up with.

I also have a little giant without a fan. Can't get the corners to heat though
 
The cheap plastic incubator is very hard to set the temp right, they might be off by a lot. Insulating it may help, epically in winter the room may be colder. If you put a pc fanin the little giant, you will do much better.
 

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