Button quail late hatch

[salsan20]

I dunk the very tip of their beaks in the water when I put them in, I stpidly lost an older bird before because I made the mistake of changing their water dish (colour only same design dish) and putting it in a slightly different location in the brooder (a 30l box so we arent talking tons of space here either). Dum birds didnt recognise it as water and I stupidly didnt recognise that until too late for one chick. My own fault but my experience is quails are not survivors and need showing everything.

For teaching to feed I cut a circle of tin foil about two inch diameter with a massive pile of food on as well as food scattered all over the brooder. I spend a few minutes tapping it even if the chicks are panicking at the other end (just until they stop bouncing and actually look even if they are investigating). Then hand out and my chicks seem to be noisy and come up and peck what I have been tapping.

 

[Dragons4u]

Oops, yea, I forgot we were talking about buttons. Sorry

 

[BunnyBuns]

It's okay! I assume it's okay to teach them to eat and drink the way you mentioned, I dunked both there heads in the water dish witch they both were angry about and sprinkled a bunch of food every where I tried doing a pecking motion at the food dish as well. I can't get tin foil till tomorrow (it's like 4:00 am here so can't really go buy some) but they seem pretty tired anyway all they wanna do is huddle next to each other and sleep. As for the baby that I helped. His foot is now shaking I don't think he is going survive the night. :/

 

[salsan20]

You could try a silver coin? Have heard that the shininess combined with you tapping makes them curious enough to tap- I only use tin foil as my quail babies tend to run away from me at first so I figure its bigger for them to see!

goodluck and fingers crossed for you

 

[dc3085]

You have to be really patient with the tapping to get them interested. Just put one finger down like a beak and tap lightly until they come peck at the tips of your finger. They will eventually.

 

[LizardKing]

You could try a silver coin? Have heard that the shininess combined with you tapping makes them curious enough to tap- I only use tin foil as my quail babies tend to run away from me at first so I figure its bigger for them to see!

goodluck and fingers crossed for you

I use the end of a spoon and tap in the water and food.
Eventually they learn where it is, I know when they do when they eat the spoon food
and then go off to the water to drink on their own.
They come running to peck food off the end of the spoon when I go in to see them, they get
excited at noises and come out to see what is going on..

 

[BunnyBuns]

:UPDATE:
Okay the chick I helped is still alive somehow!? I woke up this morning and found him squished under the brooder lamp thing against the glass. (I got the eco glow brinsea brooder) Anyone know what I should do with him?

As for the other chicks I got both to start eating and drinking and they are doing great! c:

 

[Quail Jailer]

Hatcher is still running but I think the fat lady has sung.

Wound up with 29 healthy birds no issues.

2 pipped and failed to launch. The other dozen didn't do anything, I'll look at them later.

I gotta admit I did not candle any of these eggs at any time, just slapped em in the smoker.

9 were infertile, 3 showed dark, still in hatcher, probably dead, definitely dead if they don't come out by 10 pm.

 

[BunnyBuns]

the 2 chicks to hatch~ (and have a chance of living)

Fuzz butt was not letting me take a picture of him! >:U

 

[Magic Birdie]

Congrats!