chicks are here!!!!!

[quailtrail]

3am nothing 6:30 1 RUNNING and chirping trying to get out. 7 am another pipping. So ??? do we wait until all hatched 3 total to dry then to brooder correct? ? The 1st is chirping like mad lol

 

[TwoCrows]

I leave them in the incubator at least 4 hours, or till they are completely dry. They can chill if they are still wet. If they are all zipping within the same hour, you can leave them till everybody hatches and dries. If there are long hours between zippings and the hatched ones are dry, you can remove them but be quick leaving the lid open.

Enjoy the new babies!

 

[quailtrail]

Will it harm them to wait until say 8hrs after hatch

 

[TwoCrows]

No, 8 hours is fine. But remove them before the day is over. Quail need to eat and drink quicker than chicken chicks.

Lay down paper towels on the floor of the brooder and sprinkle feed all around by the feeder so they can find the feed. Use a chick waterer or put marbles or small stones in the base of a larger waterer so the babies do not drown. Quail are famous for falling in and drowning. You can even use jelly jar lids with tiny stones.

When you remove the babies today, dip their beaks in the water and tap with your finger on the feed on the floor. This will make them eat.

Start the heat out at 95 degrees, lowering it 5 degrees each week until they are 5 or 6 weeks old. Use a brooder with solid sides and flooring. Do not cover the lid with anything but a screen for good heat and oxygen flow. Keep the heat off to one side and the feed and water on the other so they have to leave the heat to get food and water. They can also cool down this way if they need to.

Good luck!

 

[James the Bald]

3am nothing 6:30 1 RUNNING and chirping trying to get out. 7 am another pipping. So ??? do we wait until all hatched 3 total to dry then to brooder correct? ? The 1st is chirping like mad lol

Ahhhhh, the joys of being owned by quail. Now, take a deep breath... let it out. Pretty soon, you're going to want to do this all over again... and again... and again... mark my words.

 

[quailtrail]

Ahhhhh, the joys of being owned by quail.  Now, take a deep breath... let it out.  Pretty soon, you're going to want to do this all over again... and again... and again... mark my words.

James you are right!!! We only did 4 eggs knowing 1 was non good to start. And yes we are already planning the next time. So exciting! !!! Lol

 

[James the Bald]

And one of the things I did was made notes from my first hatch... so when I plugged in the incubator and started doing "test runs", I would be ready. Right now, I'm on day 10. Four days until lockdown, and this time next week I'll be pacing at 3 am....

 

[quailtrail]

James my 10yo did that earlier. Every step up to the hatch and everything we did today. She calls it the quail diaries. <3

 

[PNE443]

Thats lovely! My kids were involved with the whole process too. They took lots of pictures, and watched the eggs hatch and then when the chicks were older they handled them and helped clean them out. Its a lovely experience to share with them.