Baby quail chicks dying 1 by 1 - help please!

[nicoleandeliceo]

So I'm kinda new to raising quail. I hatched and raised about 50 with very few deaths, but now my new chicks are dying 1 by 1. I've lost about 30-40 in the last couple weeks. What happens is they hatch looking normal and healthy. Then they loose their voice (I see them opening their mouth to chirp but no sound), and they get weak, sometimes I've noticed one of their legs sticking out a little when they walk, some walk backwards, and then they lay over on their back or side, breathe deeply for a while and die. This happens to them 1 by 1 anywhere between the 1st day to about 2 1/2 weeks. I've checked the temperature, food, water, given them vitamins in their water, antibiotics in the water, keep everything really clean, but nothing seems to work. At this point I've started completely separating the dying batch from my new hatchlings in case it's something contageous.

Does anyone know what might be causing them to loose their voices, limp, walk backwards and die? Do you have any advice for what I could do to help them? I live in Mexico, so I don't have access to as much resources as when I lived in the US, but any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I'm thinking if it continues with the new chicks that I'm going to stop incubating the quail eggs for a while.

 

[dc3085]

So I'm kinda new to raising quail. I hatched and raised about 50 with very few deaths, but now my new chicks are dying 1 by 1. I've lost about 30-40 in the last couple weeks. What happens is they hatch looking normal and healthy. Then they loose their voice (I see them opening their mouth to chirp but no sound), and they get weak, sometimes I've noticed one of their legs sticking out a little when they walk, some walk backwards, and then they lay over on their back or side, breathe deeply for a while and die. This happens to them 1 by 1 anywhere between the 1st day to about 2 1/2 weeks. I've checked the temperature, food, water, given them vitamins in their water, antibiotics in the water, keep everything really clean, but nothing seems to work. At this point I've started completely separating the dying batch from my new hatchlings in case it's something contageous.

Does anyone know what might be causing them to loose their voices, limp, walk backwards and die? Do you have any advice for what I could do to help them? I live in Mexico, so I don't have access to as much resources as when I lived in the US, but any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I'm thinking if it continues with the new chicks that I'm going to stop incubating the quail eggs for a while.

This sounds like it coccidosis. You will have to read through that link and decide for yourself for sure. It can be treated with corid, but it's for treating cattle so you have to use very small amounts, here is dosage guide for chickens, you will probably want to cut in half or more for quail. You should try to treat it quickly since it isn't going to stop. Try to keep the brooder/cage cleaner, it starts with one bird usually and the others get it by eating feces in the brooder. I use wire floored brooders after they are a few days old, because it helps prevent or contain any outbreak you may have.

If you don't feel like it is coccidosis, read through this overview of common gamebird diseases and you'll likely find your answer in there.

 

[luvburds]

Great links DC, I bookmarked em.

 

[dc3085]

This one is really helpful too. It's parasite based infections only.

 

[nicoleandeliceo]

Thanks so much everyone! These are really helpful links & info. I appreciate it!