First time incubating: becoming friends!

[le_bwah]

I had ten out of the dozen hatch, what i liked was how all the eggs had the same pas\rt removed, it was like there was a zipper in each egg for them to get out, the color variations are awesome as well, congrats on the new chicks!!!

That's why they call it zipping! Congrats on the hatch!

 

[le_bwah]

Seven out now! Everyone in the brooder's getting along great. I was nervous about using a heating plate, but it's worked out fine. They tend to hang out under the edges during the day, and head to the center during the night. It's Titan brand, for anyone in the market for an electric hen.

 

[le_bwah]

Nine total at the moment. #10 would be the last, but it pipped through a blood vessel and I'm not sure it'll have the strength to make it out. 9 out of 10 viable isn't bad for shipped eggs, nothing to do now but keep them happy and healthy. I'll post pics in a few days, as soon as they're a bit bigger.

Update: #10 made it out, days after the others. It's definitely the runt, much smaller and with awfully curled toes. It can't stand up for long, but it's under the brooder anyway. I figure if I can get it warm and fed, it'll have a chance. Here's hoping its toes straighten a little/it learns to walk.

 

[wildone]

awesome!!

 

[wildone]

in my recent batch, I was terrified that the last, and smallest one had curled toes, but when it got dried and fluffy the toes straightened out.

 

[Fishkeeper]

You can make little shoes for the curl-toed one. There's several ways to do it. Either wrap bits of bandaid around the toes to hold them straight, or make little snowshoes of cardboard and gently tape the toes down to the cardboard. Whatever design you pick, try to let the quail walk so it can get to food, water, and proper temps. If you can get the toes straightened out and held straight, they should stay straight.

 

[le_bwah]

in my recent batch, I was terrified that the last, and smallest one had curled toes, but when it got dried and fluffy the toes straightened out.

Thank you for the reassurance! The littlest one did indeed straighten out (now it's the one high-stepping that worries me). So far they're drinking and eating well. There is SO much more poop than I expected I'm swapping their bedding twice a day. It's all fun.

 

[wildone]

high-stepping? could there be something on its foot?

 

[le_bwah]

high-stepping? could there be something on its foot?

I checked there was no poo/food stuck to their toes, no wound that I can see. It's just that on one side, about half of the time, they pull their foot up to their hip when they walk. It might be the opposite, that the other leg has some weakness. I'm keeping an eye on it for now. So far, so good!

Update: looks like this little one may have been smooshed by their hatchmates. I found them in a three-bird pileup today, so I'm guessing that's what started the wonky gait. But they're so much better today, I think they'll heal up just fine.