baby quail shacking

[noideawhatimdoing]

two of my 3 days old quail chicks are shaking and shivering even though it doesn't seem cold. what might be wrong?

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

What kind of brooder heat source are you providing them with?

 

[noideawhatimdoing]

What kind of brooder heat source are you providing them with?

heat lamp. last time the problem was that it was too hot. one of them also sometimes starts shaking his head and backing up.

 

[el dorado quail]

Check the temperature with a thermometer?

 

[le_bwah]

How many other chicks do you have? If the rest are milling about happily, I'd be inclined to think there's something wrong with those two specific chicks. If the rest are huddling right under the light, you may simply need to bring the heat source closer.

 

[noideawhatimdoing]

they are also all itching their chests and trying to itch their bottoms.

 

[Sea Wolf]

Did you look closely for mites? They will be extremely tiny small specks. Look closely around their eyes and head. Also on the skin of the back near the tail and vent. What do you have them on for bedding? Red cedar chips will kill them as will any kind of scented ones. Plain pine chips can sometimes have mites in them.

 

[noideawhatimdoing]

it's actually newspaper.

 

[007Sean]

They could be having a reaction to the ink on the newspaper. The ink used in newspaper is toxic.

 

[DK newbie]

Do you have any sources saying what toxic ingredients are in newspaper ink? I've read that the ink is 'soy based' and not toxic. I have budgies that downright devour newspaper and they are completely fine. I've read that some canary breeders claim it 'dries out' the feet of the birds, but that's about the worst thing I've read about newspaper..