young chicks

I have three week old quail 28 of them, recently put outside I have questions about how often to leave sand bath in pen with them and if I should put DE in it since in Fl. and the mites here are horrible? Plus I have 3 chickens also 3 weeks old ,they are inside yet hard to socialize with very jumpy. I started giving them treats of hard boiled egg and greens and their poo became runny am I harming them? plus at what age can I let them outside to play in the grass and sand.? This is my first time with any kind of bird so very confused because things I am reading are from over seas and do not understand the measurements and lingo. If any one could put my mind at ease that I am doing this right please respond.


Thanks , juwjuw

I raise chicks of the Chicken type. I don't know if this will help but here's what I do with my Chicken chicks.

I feed my chickens all kinds of scraps but not at that young of an age, I wait until they are about 2-3 months before doing that. I'd just let them have chick starter or Grower (or what ever your suppose to feed quail if its different) for a while longer yet personally. But I don't think a little bit here and there will harm them. Just be careful with grass or leaves because they can get sour crop from that. It can plug them up if they get to much.
I keep mine on grower/finisher until they get to laying as the store here only sells grower and layer pellets. Don't give layer pellets before laying age, they don't need all the extra minerals yet and I've heard it can harm them. (not sure what they feed quail)

Id leave the sand bath there all the time. And Yes, do put DE in it! I do that for mine here in Mi.

You can let them out as soon as they have the vast majority of their adult feathers. But beware, they are very vulnerable to predators at this age to don't leave them where something might get them. I let mine out with supervision for an hour or so every week before they have their feathers so they get to try some grass and what not. After they have the feathers I move them into a caged in area until they are full grown (usually next spring, or mid winter) that way they are less vulnerable to predators.

I think your doing just fine! The above is what I do with mine personally. Hope this helps!