5-6 day old bob white quail chicks starting to die

[appman40]

Anyone have any advice? I have set and hatched a variety of birds over the last 30 yrs in everything from a small round hova bator incubator to my home made wooden one, currently using an older model Montgomery Wards redwood model. This year decided to try Bob White Quail, purchased 100 eggs off the internet and hatched 87. They are about 6 days old and I have started to loose one a day over the last couple days. All seem very active, appear to be eating well and drinking. Have several farm stores in the area but only one that carries game bird food... and only one variety... I am feeding a Purina Game Bird Crumble, Startena BMD 50, medicated.. Crude Protein 30%.. They are brooding in the house with heat, and coarse pine shavings. Have only seen one that looked sickly before it died, just appeared to be listless, lay on its side and kick. The others that I lost were just found dead. Everything I read says that they are not hard to raise but usually anything I have hatched once dried and in the broodeer I have no trouble with. any ideas? Have read some things that say should be giving electrolytes, some say hard boiled eggs, but others state with a good feed no need?

 

[DK newbie]

Loosing 3? chicks out of 87 really isn't much. Imo, it probably doesn't have much to do with what you do - some chicks just aren't meant to live. The feed sounds good, though I know next to nothing about brooding bob whites. If you'd lost 10, I'd start to consider you might've done something wrong. But if the others look good, I really doubt you can do anything better.

 

[pkhunter]

I agree With DK losing 3 is not that bad. I raise coturnix not bobs and I usually loose 4-5 out of a 100. I had 47 hatch this morning lost 1 already. Sounds like your set-up is fine

 

[appman40]

Thanks for the info.... lost another 2 today since my post this morning... just didnt want to wait too long to decide there may be a problem, would rather be extra careful than careless.

 

[Tony K T]

If you are losing 2-3 a day there is a problem.Could they be over crowded and smothering each other?I was losing 2-3 a day also and I called they guy I got the eggs from and asked if he had issues.He said he has to treat them with sulmet once a week.I did the same and it did the trick.Not saying you have the same problem but it wouldn't hurt to try.
In N.H.,Tony.

 

[pkhunter]

Thanks for the info.... lost another 2 today since my post this morning... just didnt want to wait too long to decide there may be a problem, would rather be extra careful than careless.

How big is the brooder? Can they get away from the heat if its to hot? Also I'm not a fan of shavings that might be your problem, I raise mine on 1/4" wire.