Falling Baby Cheepers

[FowlPlay1]

Their food is 28% protein and fibely ground. I thoughtthe same thing about a possible lack of nutrients so friday I got the drops for the water that have a high vitamin content. It seemed to help quite a bit by the end of the day insofar as the survivors seemed much more calm except for a couple of bullies.
Also, I noticed that one little cheeper has a black tallon that looks decayed and another that is cherry red and looks swollen. Could it be foot rot? I know quail are highly susceptible but we've not had a case yet with our own hatchlings. Any ideas or treatment available?

 

[FowlPlay1]

And I would like to say that the guineas we recieved on the same day are doing wonderfully! They are super sweet and adorable and tug of war between baby birds is insanely precious! So there's a silver lining in our brooding room!

 

[chrishw]

I've also found that many babies do better eating from a tray or bowl. I'd absolutly take the top off that long feeder, I have the same one and while it works great 4+ weeks they can't feed from it for the first week or so for me.

Edit. I also put a couple waters and food in too, one of each just outside the heat and another at cool end.

I've raised um much more crowded than you are. I wonder if they are pecking their toes? Perhaps Another sign that they might not be getting the food they want. I'd also put a second (or even a third) waterer with electrolites.

 

[yinepu]

And I would like to say that the guineas we recieved on the same day are doing wonderfully! They are super sweet and adorable and tug of war between baby birds is insanely precious! So there's a silver lining in our brooding room!

it definitely sounds like a lack of food / vitamins then (guineas have a larger yolk so can go longer after hatch than quail can)

 

[yinepu]

I've also found that many babies do better eating from a tray or bowl. I'd absolutly take the top off that long feeder, I have the same one and while it works great 4+ weeks they can't feed from it for the first week or so for me.

Edit. I also put a couple waters and food in too, one of each just outside the heat and another at cool end.

I've raised um much more crowded than you are. I wonder if they are pecking their toes? Perhaps Another sign that they might not be getting the food they want. I'd also put a second (or even a third) waterer with electrolites.

X2

 

[FowlPlay1]

I just don't know what else to do. We've lost a total of 47 out of 100 ordered and 110 delivered. We have the food ground to a super fine powder, minimum to no larger chunks. I'm adding a nutritional supplement to their water, and direct drops for the aggressive ones, which I separate from the others into a smaller container located in the brooder with the red lamp. They are provided their own finely ground food and nutrient enhanced water. I am also giving direct drops to the ones I see stargazing as they snuggle up to sleep. It doesn't have a high vitamin b content, however. Is there anything you would suggest for that?

As you can see in the picture, they have MORE than enough space. There are only about 20 quail per 50 gallon container. The ones under the red lamp seem to be doing a little better attitude-wise, so I have begun to rotate that light between the three tubs at night (the farm supply store only had one red heat lamp bulb in stock, so the other two brooders have regular lamps--I back ordered more red bulbs).

The injured quail seem to be doing fine, although I don't have much hope for a few of them considering their wounds. Most that have been victimized have been severely pecked around the top of their beaks--so badly that when I first saw them 2 days ago, I actually thought they were having little birdie nosebleeds! After cleaning a couple up, I realized that it was just a case of the fine downy feathers at the top of their beaks being picked raw. These guys are healing nicely now that I have cleaned them up and separated the bullies to their own little time-out area.

I have 3 cheepers, however, who have had their hindquarters picked raw. By raw I mean horrifically raw. I have to wash their little bottoms multiple times a day because their manure just hangs out back there rather than dropping the way it should. They are acting alright, behaviorally, but when I pick them up, they smell a bit like decay, although it could just be the wound trying to heal. Today I plan to change the litter in what I'm now calling the "infirmary" from wood shavings to paper towels to prevent any dust particles from sticking and causing an infection, and I need to know if there is anything special I can use to treat the poor little guys (so far I have been using a warm water soaked cotton ball to clean them up, and triple antibiotic ointment to help fight any infection.)

I have never experienced any of these symptoms with any of the other fowl I have hatched or had shipped, although this is the first time I've received quail through the mail. The guineas I picked up the same day are doing marvelously--playful, sweet, very healthy, a bit skittish but a cricket or worm a day seems to be curing them of that. Please know that this is not my first rodeo with day old chicks or hatchlings--and the quail I've hatched on location have all done exceedingly well with the care and conditions provided.

Sorry for the length, I'm just completely at a loss as to what else to do! It's heartbreaking to lose half of your babies within 2 days, and more heartbreaking still to see about a third of the survivors suffering. Any input would be most helpful and welcome!

Just to re-cap for any joining this thread now, here is a list of basics:

-feed -- %28 protein, finely ground into a powder--they are all eating

-water --small, shallow water feeders with colored stones in the bottom to prevent climbing in, nutrient substitute added (nutri-drench, high in calcium, vitamins A, D-3, and E), cleaned of any food waste or litter twice a day (morning and afternoon) -- they are all drinking

-litter -- wood shavings (dust particle free, same that I have used for all my fowl hatchlings with the exception of guineas) with a black easy grip mat beneath the lamp where they like to sleep

-brooder -- 50 gallon plastic rubbermaid tub, each with roughly 20 cheepers residing. tempurature a steady 97 degrees under the lamps, less on the far end for relief in case they get too hot. 2 tubs have regular heat lamps, one has a red bulb.

Thanks again if you've read this far, please help if you can! The vendor is sending 50 more that should be here tomorrow or Thursday, and I'm hoping they aren't in the same shape as these guys, but I feel more prepared now, at least, thanks to all the help I've received here. Thanks to everyone so far!

 

[yinepu]

I just don't know what else to do. We've lost a total of 47 out of 100 ordered and 110 delivered. We have the food ground to a super fine powder, minimum to no larger chunks. I'm adding a nutritional supplement to their water, and direct drops for the aggressive ones, which I separate from the others into a smaller container located in the brooder with the red lamp. They are provided their own finely ground food and nutrient enhanced water. I am also giving direct drops to the ones I see stargazing as they snuggle up to sleep. It doesn't have a high vitamin b content, however. Is there anything you would suggest for that?

As you can see in the picture, they have MORE than enough space. There are only about 20 quail per 50 gallon container. The ones under the red lamp seem to be doing a little better attitude-wise, so I have begun to rotate that light between the three tubs at night (the farm supply store only had one red heat lamp bulb in stock, so the other two brooders have regular lamps--I back ordered more red bulbs).

The injured quail seem to be doing fine, although I don't have much hope for a few of them considering their wounds. Most that have been victimized have been severely pecked around the top of their beaks--so badly that when I first saw them 2 days ago, I actually thought they were having little birdie nosebleeds! After cleaning a couple up, I realized that it was just a case of the fine downy feathers at the top of their beaks being picked raw. These guys are healing nicely now that I have cleaned them up and separated the bullies to their own little time-out area.

I have 3 cheepers, however, who have had their hindquarters picked raw. By raw I mean horrifically raw. I have to wash their little bottoms multiple times a day because their manure just hangs out back there rather than dropping the way it should. They are acting alright, behaviorally, but when I pick them up, they smell a bit like decay, although it could just be the wound trying to heal. Today I plan to change the litter in what I'm now calling the "infirmary" from wood shavings to paper towels to prevent any dust particles from sticking and causing an infection, and I need to know if there is anything special I can use to treat the poor little guys (so far I have been using a warm water soaked cotton ball to clean them up, and triple antibiotic ointment to help fight any infection.)

I have never experienced any of these symptoms with any of the other fowl I have hatched or had shipped, although this is the first time I've received quail through the mail. The guineas I picked up the same day are doing marvelously--playful, sweet, very healthy, a bit skittish but a cricket or worm a day seems to be curing them of that. Please know that this is not my first rodeo with day old chicks or hatchlings--and the quail I've hatched on location have all done exceedingly well with the care and conditions provided.

Sorry for the length, I'm just completely at a loss as to what else to do! It's heartbreaking to lose half of your babies within 2 days, and more heartbreaking still to see about a third of the survivors suffering. Any input would be most helpful and welcome!

Just to re-cap for any joining this thread now, here is a list of basics:

-feed -- %28 protein, finely ground into a powder--they are all eating

-water --small, shallow water feeders with colored stones in the bottom to prevent climbing in, nutrient substitute added (nutri-drench, high in calcium, vitamins A, D-3, and E), cleaned of any food waste or litter twice a day (morning and afternoon) -- they are all drinking

-litter -- wood shavings (dust particle free, same that I have used for all my fowl hatchlings with the exception of guineas) with a black easy grip mat beneath the lamp where they like to sleep

-brooder -- 50 gallon plastic rubbermaid tub, each with roughly 20 cheepers residing. tempurature a steady 97 degrees under the lamps, less on the far end for relief in case they get too hot. 2 tubs have regular heat lamps, one has a red bulb.

Thanks again if you've read this far, please help if you can! The vendor is sending 50 more that should be here tomorrow or Thursday, and I'm hoping they aren't in the same shape as these guys, but I feel more prepared now, at least, thanks to all the help I've received here. Thanks to everyone so far!

is there iron in the drops?.. if so.. stop using it!

edited to add.. if the feed is adequate I would stop dosing the healthy ones with the drops (not sure what's in it and you may be inadvertently overdosing them on vitamins)...
for the next batch.. do you have a TSC nearby?.. if so get some of their save a chick and use that in the water only.. make sure they have the powder fine feed and water from the moment you unpack the box and see how they do...
Are the newest ones coming from the same source and the first batch?...

edited to add: putting vitamins in the water for the healthy ones and single dosing the star gazers who aren't drinking should be plenty.. so I wouldn't single dose healthy chicks.. especially since they need B vitamins and not so much of the other vitamins that they may be overdosing on..

 

[chrishw]

I'm so sorry for your struggles,

Lowes, home depot, Walmart all carry the 150w heat lamp bulbs! I always keep 2 spares (they always go out at 9pm or Sunday at 6 and usually in pairs)
**** given your troubles I'd only use red lights and even keep the overhead white lights off!****

I usually use 24% protein, chick starter, and I don't grind it. I do take some oyster shell and put it in a flour sifter and "sift" some dust on the food.

Did you take the top off the feeder? I'd say even a paper plate for food is best for the first couple weeks, they just are not big (smart) enough to stick their head into those holes.

If I put out water with nutrients I also put out plain water and they tend to pick the one they need.

Lots of good ideas so far, most are likely not important or wrong for your spwcific problem but who knows which one is which, a shotgun approach with all possible solutions is best now.

I think I've said most of this this in earlier posts but it can't hurt to say again, open or topless feeders not very high sides. Multible feeders and water dishes, dusting of calcium on the feed and just red lights!!!

 

[FowlPlay1]

Yay! They're doing very well today! My local farm supply store had our red bulbs, they're eating and napping and drinking and not mauling one another! Thanks for all the help!