Disaster struck.

[quailmama 82012]

I lost two quail today. One adult quail and one chick. I was gone for a weekend trip and I had my poor neighbors (bless their souls) take care of them. One of the chicks died of unknown reasons and I had to do some major cleaning when I got home. The other adult that passed was taken by a predator, we think fox or coon.we have beefed up protection for the outside coop.
On top of all this, I think my chicks are turning out to be boys.
Three boys. Come on.
Anyway, I was super overwhelmed today but I am still a newbie so these things do happen unfortunately. Learn something everyday, even if it's the hard way I guess.

 

[Nabiki]

The smaller the hatch, the higher the chance of non 50/50 hatch rates. I took 6 eggs for someone to hatch. 5 hatched, and they were *all* boys.

 

[Kale the Quail]

I made the stupid mistake of putting a nipple waterer into my brooder and not securing it properly and when I got home it had fallen and one of my chicks was soaked. She survived though.
A raccoon got into my coop in the fall while I was in the states and my entire flock was decimated. I got a new flock in the following spring though

 

[muddy75]

it can be extremely difficult when you have to entrust the care of your birds to someone else. no matter how well-meaning, things happen sometimes beyond anyone’s control and it’s an unfortunate part of the learning process!! you just have to provide the best that you can and be prepared for the occasional mishap along the way......

 

[quailmama 82012]

Very true. It may not seem like a big deal, but I only had five to begin with so when I lost two is was a large percent of my flock.
Plus they were all my pets, not just cute meat makers lol.

 

[Quailobsessed]

Very true. It may not seem like a big deal, but I only had five to begin with so when I lost two is was a large percent of my flock.
Plus they were all my pets, not just cute meat makers lol.

I'm very sorry about your loss

I know how you feel. Mine are pets too, so I get very attached to them. When I was away once, I had some friends looking after my pets, and they accidentally let my quail out and he flew away. They were really apologetic about it and even found a breeder where I could get some more from. I made the same mistake a few days later though.

 

[Pandaisy]

I feel your pain. I told my grandma to feed the cat while I was on vacation and not to feed the quail, they have plenty enough for three days. When I came back, it looked like she had thrown her entire backyard into the aviary, weeds and greens everywhere. My quail didn't lay for a couple of days and had diarrhea... Thank you grandma.