[Fixed] OMG MAJOR HELP 9 CHICKS DEAD IN 4 DAYS D:

[Coturnix Quail]

Thank you!! I did place them under the lamp again as soon as the sun went down, and I'm going to order a clamp lamp and then screw it into the 70 watt light bulb. Thank you. But the boiler room is pretty hot I still dont know why theyre getting cold. I dont want to use the desk lamp because its a fire hazard and I just keep switching between 2 every day, but at night I turn it off. I think I'll order it as soon as possible, and keep them under it. When i put them in the sun, they all spread out. Which is good. I do leave shade just in case they get too hot. I had to dump 9 baby bodies so far and I dont want to do that anymore. They look kind of wet... Not exactly fluffy. How should I keep them warm at night?? Well ,thank you so much, with your help, I dont think they will die

 

[CheerfulChirp]

I'd add two hot (but not boiling) water bottles wrapped in cloth or newspaper to the box for tonight, just in case. They can spread out and press against those for warmth, instead of piling on each other.

If you're able to get up once in the middle of the night to replace the water in the bottles with fresh hot water, it could help them, but I know it's not always possible.

Here's a link that shows you an example of a heat lamp: https://www.amazon.com/Little-Giant...=1471219265&sr=8-3&keywords=poultry+heat+lamp. They usually give out a dim red light, but lots of heat. You'll probably need to get one like this in time for tomorrow night. I know some people have used desk lamps, the kind that get really hot, but yes they are a fire risk overnight. A household light usually isn't sufficient to keep them warm.

Do you have a thermometer in the box, or in the room where you're keeping them? If it doesn't read 35 degrees Celsius, they will be too cold. At typical room temperature they can become too cold in minutes, and start to huddle together.

 

[eHuman]

Zoo Meds infrared nocturnal heat lamps available at any pet store that stocks reptile supplies. They are designed to remain powered 24 hours a day. Quail can't see in infrared spectrum so it doesn't interfere with their day/night cycle and you can view their activity after lights out. I use the 75w bulb with a dimmer cord and Zoo Meds matching deep socket reflector, but the amount of wattage needed depends entirely on the size and layout of your brooder. Put a thermometer at chick level to ensure the temperature, NEVER guess.

 

[Coturnix Quail]

OK, thanks. Where I live (ny) its now like 12:00 A.M so I dont believe I'll need to get up but even thou no, I'll try and go downstairs to check on them. Warm water bottle? So fill it with warm water? And then wrap towel around it??? Lying down on facing up? I need advice quickly, I'm gonna sleep soon

 

[Coturnix Quail]

Nvm! Last night, my father came back with the light casing so I screwed it in and put it on for the night! This morning I woke up too see most of them were sleeping, and happy! None were dead!

Thank you for your advice,I really do appreciate it!

But now they seem a bit wet, they did before too, they seem bigger.. Are they just growing? I'm moving them into a bigger box today! I'll keep you updated! Wish me luck!!

 

[Binki]

It could be the feather shafts coming in that is making them look wet

Hmm I don't know if you remember on another one of your posts but I suggested having no more than 20-25 chicks per brooder because even if you have adequate heat, sometimes they get scared/confused (for example, one pecks a spot on another's foot, it gives a pain/danger squeal and they all start running and piling like crazy, looking for their mom) and end up weakening/suffocating each other like that. :/

I hope your quail are older now, have more heat and the worst is behind you do any of them "stand into the pet"?? Hehe some of my babies will go on their tippy toes when you pet them and try and smush themselves into your fingers hehe!

 

[Coturnix Quail]

Fortunately it was just heat. They suffocated each other, but I got a better lamp, so now they're ok! Fortunately, no pecking is going on! Some of them do stand up for me to pet them, but not all of them do that They just peck at me now

It feels so ticklish and cute!! I'm really enjoying having them, but they're growing up too quick!

They're all good. Hopefully, no more will die.. but just in case, wish me luck!

 

[eHuman]

I'm glad that it was a simple diagnostic and fix, and not something exotic. Now is the time to concentrate on their grow out pen if you have not started. As you rightfully said: they grow quickly.

Be weary of the 5 week mark. Your males will be full of hormones and there will be fights even deaths if you don't properly separate them. Keep the males and females apart or there will be bloodshed. Be ready to remove problem roos so there is no fighting in the bachelor pad. The females won't be ready to mate for a couple weeks after the males will try.

Good luck!

 

[Coturnix Quail]

Thanks! I am planning on seperating the females and males, if I want them to breed, I'll take them into a seperate cage. Will all the males in one cage be ok without fighting?? Now, when should I move them into a legit cage instead of 2 plastic containers. I'm thinking rabbit hutches? If not rabbit hutches I might just buy a chicken coop

Can they bite as they grow older? Right now theyre almost about a week, so I'll grab the top. Is clipping easy, and should I do it? Well, thanks for wishing me luck, because since I'm new at this, I'm probbobly going to need it all

 

[purslanegarden]

You don't need to separate them out like putting them into a hotel to mate. I would suggest that you pick a set or two of 1 male, 2-4 females (up to 5 is even OK too). Let them be your breeding group, give them all the TLC you can.

The others may just be your eating group or serve some other purpose, including just laying eggs that you won't hatch.

Of course we don't know your plans with them but if you are intending to mate lots of them and start some kind of business, you will want to find a way to handle large groups of mating quail so that you get birds to sell, eggs to sell, and eggs to hatch, etc

I have typically moved my baby quail out of their brooding box at around 2 weeks old. By that time, they are all constantly pooping so much that the brooder isn't very clean from day to day, and I didn't want them sleeping or stepping in their poop too much.

Quail don't necessarily bite people but they can peck at and bite each other.

Depending on the number of quail you are wanting to keep, a hutch-style coop is fine or else, you might consider a larger one built upon the ground.