BOBWHITE QUAIL CHICK EMERGANCY!!!!!

[kingmt]

I don't know much about Bobwhites. I've kept my own Coturnix eggs up to 14 days with pretty good hatch rates but after that it drops way off. Incubators on the cold side seems to produce chicks that don't start very well. You can also get a bacteria in the incubator from one hatch to the next that will kill your chicks. You need a good cleaning between hatches. This is why several people finish their hatch in a dedicated hatcher instead of their incubator.

I've got a home made incubator that isn't used or wasn't used anymore that I'm going to give this a try myself this time.

Remember it is a incubator & it will incubate more then just your quail or chicken eggs. It is the ideal environment to grow bacteria.

 

[313759]

I clean it after each hatch, it's hard to clean because of the Styrofoam but I end up getting it clean anyway. I clean it with disinfectants and such, scrubbing it down and airing it out.

 

[313759]

Is medicated feed good for the chicks? because that could also be the problem

 

[LeafBlade12345]

Try to use non-medicated food if possible.

 

[313759]

Ok

 

[LeafBlade12345]

Also, maybe supplement the quail's diet with scrambled egg, veggies, and seeds like millet spray. They like that.

 

[313759]

Ok, so I got a small bag of game bird and showbird feed. It has 24.00% protein in it and it's good starter and grower feed it says. It's from the manner something company. I'm grinding the feed with a pepper grinder thingy and it works great so now I'm all prepared for this up coming batch which should hatch next week.

 

[kingmt]

Truthfully I can't say that medicated will hurt. I've been told or read that chick starter has treatment for coccidiosis & isn't good for quail. But it isn't high enough protein for quail. When I first started I had birds falling over dead that I thought was healthy minutes before. I don't some reading & went to turkey starter & the problem went away. I also read not to use the medicated turkey starter but I don't recall why.

 

[LeafBlade12345]

Yes I use non medicated as well

 

[313759]

My mannapro feed doesn't say whether it is medicated or not. I believe it isn't