9 Quail Babies

[Grind Hard Farm]

9 quail eggs hatched on day 19 (Monday). After they dried up in the incubator we put them in a box with shredded paper and a lamp. We didn't give them food or water until day 2 of their hatching. We gave them soaked game bird food with millet, quinoa, and some fresh spinach. It looked like they ate the spinach and we had water in a hamster dispenser. Around day 3, it seemed like they were dying one by one, we lost three. This morning, it was super quiet so I checked on them. All of them are down, 2 are dead, 1 on the brink of death, and 3 moving around but seem weak. What caused this? Are they not eating right?

 

[WoDia]

@Grind Hard Farm Because quail chicks are so tiny, they need to eat and drink much sooner than standard or bantam chickens. I raise Bobwhites and Kings currently, and I provide food and water in the brooder immediately, as chicks are dried and moved out of the incubator. The next time you incubate quail eggs, have the brooder ready and available with gamebird crumbles finely ground, and water (shallow lids with marbles in the water to prevent drowning can be used). Plus, a thermometer to monitor the temperature. I’m very sorry to hear about your chicks. It sounds like you may have waited too long to give them food and water. Also, the thermometer should have been reading 99-99.5 on the warm side. If you have chick vitamins, add them to the water for the remaining chicks. And, only provide the gamebird feed. It will give them the nutrition they need.

 

[Grind Hard Farm]

@Grind Hard Farm Because quail chicks are so tiny, they need to eat and drink much sooner than standard or bantam chickens. I raise Bobwhites and Kings currently, and I provide food and water in the brooder immediately, as chicks are dried and moved out of the incubator. The next time you incubate quail eggs, have the brooder ready and available with gamebird crumbles finely ground, and water (shallow lids with marbles in the water to prevent drowning can be used). Plus, a thermometer to monitor the temperature. I’m very sorry to hear about your chicks. It sounds like you may have waited too long to give them food and water. Also, the thermometer should have been reading 99-99.5 on the warm side. If you have chick vitamins, add them to the water for the remaining chicks. And, only provide the gamebird feed. It will give them the nutrition they need.

Thank you. I also think maybe it was because of the lamp, it's a regular desk lamp. I'm looking into buying a heating plate now

 

[WoDia]

Thank you. I also think maybe it was because of the lamp, it's a regular desk lamp. I'm looking into buying a heating plate now

I hope I’ve been helpful. Let me know how the remaining chicks are doing.

 

[Grind Hard Farm]

I hope I’ve been helpful. Let me know how the remaining chicks are doing.

You have. One of the three that was weak died, 2 are still with us. One is folded over (some of them were like that, like they don't have control of their head/neck) and the other is moving around a lot, what a strong one.

 

[WoDia]

You have. One of the three that was weak died, 2 are still with us. One is folded over (some of them were like that, like they don't have control of their head/neck) and the other is moving around a lot, what a strong one.

I’m sorry to hear that you lost another one. You’re doing what you can with the last 2. The other one may need a little more time to get strong enough to get around. If it’s getting some food , and especially water, it might make it. I hope it does.

 

[Nabiki]

I would cut all of the extra food except for the game bird starter. The game bird starter is intended to give them everything they need in the quantities they need for health. By adding the other things, their diet is no longer balanced and best for their health.

That being said, I wouldn't rush to get a heat plate. Rather, put a thermometer under the heat lamp so you know what temperature the chicks have. For new chicks, it should be in the high 90s directly under the lamp. Make sure there is a warm end and a cool end to the brooder, and the chicks will tell you where they're comfortable. If they're piling on top of each other, they're cold. If they're spread out and stretched out, they're hot.

 

[Grind Hard Farm]

I’m sorry to hear that you lost another one. You’re doing what you can with the last 2. The other one may need a little more time to get strong enough to get around. If it’s getting some food , and especially water, it might make it. I hope it does.

Yeah, I hoped so too. Sadly they didn't make it. Thanks for your help though, it helps.

 

[Grind Hard Farm]

I would cut all of the extra food except for the game bird starter. The game bird starter is intended to give them everything they need in the quantities they need for health. By adding the other things, their diet is no longer balanced and best for their health.

That being said, I wouldn't rush to get a heat plate. Rather, put a thermometer under the heat lamp so you know what temperature the chicks have. For new chicks, it should be in the high 90s directly under the lamp. Make sure there is a warm end and a cool end to the brooder, and the chicks will tell you where they're comfortable. If they're piling on top of each other, they're cold. If they're spread out and stretched out, they're hot.

There were some moments when they huddled and when they spaced out. But I did start with just the game bird feed and they didn't eat it. As I said, they ate some of the spinach and tasted the feed by itself but didn't want it.

 

[Nabiki]

There were some moments when they huddled and when they spaced out. But I did start with just the game bird feed and they didn't eat it. As I said, they ate some of the spinach and tasted the feed by itself but didn't want it.

That's very unusual. Was it small enough for them to eat? Do you have the label for it?