➡ Quail Hatch Along🥚

[CayugaJana]

I moved my Littles outside today. Always makes me nervous but they always do ok. They have a heat lamp, huddle box and a brooder plate to choose from.

What are your temps when you take them outside?

 

[dpenning]

Just went to check on them. I have never had a quail figure out a heat plate. There were 4 of them huddled behind the huddle box where they would have frozen so I moved it over them so they could get to the heat lamp. Didn’t pay attention to who it was but I’m going to go with stoops!

 

[dpenning]

What are your temps when you take them outside?

It was 65 when I took them out. Will dip into the 50’s tonight.

 

[007Sean]

@R2elk @007Sean @CoturnixComplex

I’ve noticed the later hatches have curled toes. Is there a reason for that? Or is it a coincidence?

I have noticed that when it takes a long time for the chick to get out of the shell, that they will have curled toes or leg problems. Especially when the humidity is at or above 70%, it causes the chick to become 'stuck' can't turn due to too much fluid inside the shell....not enough moisture evaporated durning the normal incubation period, then raising the humidity for the last 3 days to a point of almost saturation, just aggravates the issue.
I've had pheasants that took a long time to hatch and had curled toes, clubbed foot. I used a male for breeding purposes a few years ago that was club foot, because it wasn't a genetic issue. I hatched it from one of my other breeders, so I know it wasn't genetic. He took a long time to hatch, though. He throws chicks, male only, that have the same clubbed foot. His left foot is clubbed and his chicks are left foot clubbed, too! Not all of his chicks have this condition but enough do that I don't use him for breeding, anymore. If it was genetic all of his chicks would be clubbed foot....so I really don't understand why some do and some don't, nor why only the males have the condition, unless foot configurations are determined by the males chromosomes?

 

[CoturnixComplex]

I have noticed that when it takes a long time for the chick to get out of the shell, that they will have curled toes or leg problems. Especially when the humidity is at or above 70%, it causes the chick to become 'stuck' can't turn due to too much fluid inside the shell....not enough moisture evaporated durning the normal incubation period, then raising the humidity for the last 3 days to a point of almost saturation, just aggravates the issue.
I've had pheasants that took a long time to hatch and had curled toes, clubbed foot. I used a male for breeding purposes a few years ago that was club foot, because it wasn't a genetic issue. I hatched it from one of my other breeders, so I know it wasn't genetic. He took a long time to hatch, though. He throws chicks, male only, that have the same clubbed foot. His left foot is clubbed and his chicks are left foot clubbed, too! Not all of his chicks have this condition but enough do that I don't use him for breeding, anymore. If it was genetic all of his chicks would be clubbed foot....so I really don't understand why some do and some don't, nor why only the males have the condition, unless foot configurations are determined by the males chromosomes?

It could be some epigenetic mechanism - aka, the expression of his (and his offspring's) genetic code literally was altered from the injury/inflammation. The same way descendants of people who've gone through starvation have elevated risks of obesity and other health issues even when all other factors are accounted for. It is absolutely fascinating but too frustrating a field for me to think about for long. I like my illusion of control!

 

[007Sean]

It could be some epigenetic mechanism - aka, the expression of his (and his offspring's) genetic code literally was altered from the injury/inflammation. The same way descendants of people who've gone through starvation have elevated risks of obesity and other health issues even when all other factors are accounted for. It is absolutely fascinating but too frustrating a field for me to think about for long. I like my illusion of control!

You could be right...I'm not that energetic to research it either, not when I have other birds without any genetic problems, I just switch breeder birds.
ETA - None of his 'normal' foot offspring throw club foot chicks.

 

[HuffleClaw]

I need ideas for a quick quail brooder. I have 2 days, and I’m nowhere near prepared. Going to pick up gamebird starter feed today.

 

[muddy75]

I need ideas for a quick quail brooder. I have 2 days, and I’m nowhere near prepared. Going to pick up gamebird starter feed today.

i use a plastic tote in my living room for first week. a lot of ppl use small animal cage (which I may switch to as son has extra since he put guinea pigs in a bigger cage). in shed and outside I have rabbit hutch with hardware cloth over wire to prevent escape of runts.

 

[HuffleClaw]

i use a plastic tote in my living room for first week. a lot of ppl use small animal cage (which I may switch to as son has extra since he put guinea pigs in a bigger cage). in shed and outside I have rabbit hutch with hardware cloth over wire to prevent escape of runts.

Okay great, thank you so much. I have plenty of plastic totes from all the chicken chicks.

 

[Kiki]

Tote thing

Cardboard box

Dog kennel