Another quick question on hatching (brooder, food and water)

[topgunbobby]

I need to keep my babies on lockdown for the next few days, but when should I transfer them to the brooder. I have heard that I should keep them all in there, until lockdown is over or wait for them to "dry out". So, when should I transfer and when should I feed/water them?

 

[Habibs Hens]

chicks will be OK for 72 hours but i have found the quicker after drying they come out the better

they will start eating quicker and fluff better

if hatch completes in 24 hours wait

if there are a few stragglers to hatch remove whats out after 24 hours

 

[TwoCrows]

72 hours is too long for quail babies. Chicken chicks can go that long, not quail babies. Quail need to start eating and drinking within the first 24 hours. Dip everybody's beak in the water when transferring them to the brooder. Make sure everybody is dry first. If this hatch lasts longer than 24 hours, get the ones out that are dry and hatched. Just be quick. Quail squirm. So have a box ready beneath the incubator, reach in and quickly get the dry ones out.

Lay down paper towels and sprinkle crushed feed on the floor all around the feeder area so they can find it. You can remove the paper towels 3 or 4 days later, or when everybody knows where the food is stored.

Use chick waterers or put tiny stones are marbles in the water base of a regular water font so they don't fall in and drown.

Start the temp out at 95 degrees, (thermometer on the floor directly under the heat source), feed and water on one side of brooder, heat on the other. Lower the temp by 5 degrees each week for 5 to 6 weeks.