Baby Quail Are Not Eating!

[EllesQuailQTs]

Hello everyone,
I got some day old quail chicks yesterday. I showed them the water and they seem to be drinking. However, the food is a similar color and texture to the bedding and they aren't eating much. Would adding some food color or something help?? Thanks for your help!

 

[hcammack]

Is the food small enough I raised buttons and you some times have to crush up the crumbles even more. Put them on paper towl so you don't have the problem with the bedding I always leave newly hatched chicks on paper towl for the first 2-3 days.

Henry

 

[EllesQuailQTs]

I put a paper towel in so that should help. Thanks Henry! I also put some more food in that I further ground (its gamebird starter). Now they're huddled in the corner (standing up) like they're stressed. So I'm trying to give them some "alone time". Should I try hand- feeding them later on if they still are not eating?

 

[Elite Silkies]

I would put the gamebird starter in a blender and grind it so that it looks like cornmeal. They are too small to eat the food the way it is.

 

[aprophet]

Quote:
I hope my baby Bobs don,t read this LOL they might quit eating. I just use startina they seem smart enough to eat the little pieces there is a lot of "fines" in what I buy it seems to be working here

a shiny dime seem to help if you put it right in the middle of the food I use paper towels the first week or so too .

 

[JJMR794]

The Only Thing Too Small To Eat Standard Gamebird Starter Crumbles Are Buttons. Coturnix, Bobs, Valleys, Gambels Do Fine With The Crumble.... Most Likely They Are Scared. And I Dont Recomend Hand Feeding.... You Think They Are Stressed Out Now- Just Wait Til You Start Handling Them! Also When Handled And Startled And Struggling They Will Puke--- While Thats Gross Enough In Its Own Right It Presents A Much Larger More Lethal Problem---- When They Puke They Are Very Prone To Aspirating It (inhaling Some Or The Regurgitation....) This Is 98% Death Sentance From The Resultant Pnuemonia They Will Get From Inhaling Gastric Contents. Place A Nice Shiney Dime On Top Of The Food, Sprinkle Some Around On The Brooder Floor And Leave Them Be... Anything More Will Only Increase Their Stress Level And Panic Them More. Also The Entire Flor Should Be Covered In Paper Towels-- The Contrast Will Help The Food Stand Out And Attract Their Attention

 

[jenjscott]

piling and standing in chicken chicks means they're too cold. Did you check your temperature?

 

[shelleyd2008]

They shouldn't be on bedding if they are day olds, they should be on paper towels until they know what they are supposed to eat. Their brooder should be close to 100 degrees the first week to keep them from piling, as this is one of the main causes of death in new quail chicks. Put a dime or other shiny object on top of their feed, and make sure their feed is in a shallow pan with no top so they can see the shiny thing. Most of all, put them on paper towels!!

ETA: That JJ is right, the only thing not capable of eating starter crumbles fresh out of the bag are buttons. I do make a wet mash food for my baby coturnix, but that's only so they don't waste it when they decide to get in it and scratch

 

[EllesQuailQTs]

Thanks for the quick replies! I followed the advice and thankfully the chicks started eating, now seem to be doing fine, and have made it past the difficult first two days.
If I have any more problems I will definitely let you guys know.

 

[Legaleagle54]

Oh my gosh! Thank you so much for the dime trick. The chicks came out aand started pecking around it!