Ok, so I got a phone call that someone had found A&M quail and was I interested. Of course I am, so he brings them by and they are cute. They are in 4 cardboard boxes and they are moslty white. (Some have patches and spots). Anyway, there are about 10 to a box and trying to jump out as we look at them. As we started to handle them, we realized just how skinny they are. Looks like they have been in those boxes a while. (Not my friend's fault, he bought them, then brought them as is). I wanted about 6 birds. Softee that I am, I took all 40ish. They are tiny little miserable things. I gave each one a drop of poly-vi-sol (no iron) and placed them in cages. Since I was sort of expecting grown birds, I had to improvise. They are in two wire cages with ceramic heat emittors and the cages are covered with thick towels to trap the heat as best it can. I fed them non medicated chick starter, non medicated because I was afraid they's gorge if it has been a day or two since they've eaten and I worried about overodose. I sprinkled some parrot hand feeding formula on the starter. I can give them eggs, would hard poiled or scrambled be better? Shells on or off. My adult coturnix eat starter, ground kitten food (about 3 times a week) and veggie garden picking (getting a bit slim in there now). What else can I do to get these guys going? They look horrible, so skinny (although, my coturnix have been called fat by some). Should I get them on medicated feed now or continue with the plain stuff?
Any adice would be appreciated.
(and, yes, I'm doing the quarantine thing)
TIA!
Any adice would be appreciated.
(and, yes, I'm doing the quarantine thing)
TIA!