Baby Button Quail is weak and crashing!

[Zen Wildlife Rescuer]

Hi everyone. Our lone button quail chick is extremely weak and is crashing quickly. She is on crushed game bird starter, and we have offered her hard boiled egg, peas and chick ate a little yesterday but only sleeps the whole time if we don’t force her to come out and eat. She was 3 grams on arrival (Wednesday 3 November) and is still 3 grams (Friday 5 November)

We don’t want to force feed her because of aspiration but we need to get nutrition into her. We are currently rehydrating with an electrolyte solution.

 

[Zen Wildlife Rescuer]

Let me just explain that she is only alone because someone dropped her off at our rescue centre and we cannot find anyone who keeps baby button quails in South Africa. We want to buy another species of quail to keep her company but not sure if thats safe?

 

[HeatherKellyB]

@MGG
@Kiki
@casportpony

 

[007Sean]

Not sure about South Africa but if you have Nutri-Drench available or the same thing but with a different name brand, I would use it instead of straight electrolyte solution. Given dropwise on the side of it's beak with a syringe or eye dropper.
As far as another species to keep it company would be OK, for a short period of time. A feather duster and a mirror can also be used, if no other chicks are available.
The percent protein of the crumble should be at least 24%, 28 to 30% would be best.
Temperature of the brooder should be 97 to 95°F for the first week, then reduced by 5°F per week, until ambient temperatures are 70°F or it is fully feathered.
HTH

 

[MGG]

Hi everyone. Our lone button quail chick is extremely weak and is crashing quickly. She is on crushed game bird starter, and we have offered her hard boiled egg, peas and chick ate a little yesterday but only sleeps the whole time if we don’t force her to come out and eat. She was 3 grams on arrival (Wednesday 3 November) and is still 3 grams (Friday 5 November)

We don’t want to force feed her because of aspiration but we need to get nutrition into her. We are currently rehydrating with an electrolyte solution.

Poor little one! Do you have the means to tube feed? It's not as easy to make them aspirate if you're tubing than syringing feed.
It'd have to be a tiny tube though, I'm not sure if you could get anything tiny enough.
Does she act sick? It sounds like she's mostly lonely. As long as the other quail is young, it should be ok at least temporarily. Definitely keep an eye on them though.
Hopefully she makes it!