Getting newly hatched quail to eat

[Ahavati]

We just had an 85% hatch rate on shipped eggs, super excited. We set 127 eggs and have 110 quail!!

So I need a little help. Our last hatch was ok, however we started losing a lot between days 2-4. After research I realized those probably never went and ate/drank. I was seeing quail flock to the feeder when we'd add food so I never worried. I did dip breaks and put some food on the floor and "pecked" at it with my finger. But we had a handful that didn't get anything.

So now, I need tips to not have that happen again. With 100+ it's hard to see who is actually eating and who isn't. What can I do to minimize this loss?

 

[MageofMist]

I had some quail who didn't figure out how to drink despite me dipping their beaks, one which survived with me dripping water on her beak every 5 mins due to becoming weakened due to it and not being able to drink on her own until she was much older, and another who sadly didn't make it even with me helping her/him out the same way.

And I do the same with tapping at food with my finger to get them to eat, though with ones that don't 'click' right away that they need to eat to survive, I read that playing the female tidbitting call while tapping at the food will help.

Best vid I could find of it so far.

 

[Ulaidian]

Perhaps a couple of wee food and water holders, away from one another.

 

[Ahavati]

I had some quail who didn't figure out how to drink despite me dipping their beaks, one which survived with me dripping water on her beak every 5 mins due to becoming weakened due to it and not being able to drink on her own until she was much older, and another who sadly didn't make it even with me helping her/him out the same way.

And I do the same with tapping at food with my finger to get them to eat, though with ones that don't 'click' right away that they need to eat to survive, I read that playing the female tidbitting call while tapping at the food will help.

Best vid I could find of it so far.

Ohh! Great idea, I will definitely try that! I feel it would be easier to constantly get them to eat and drink if I had a few, but there are so many! Lol.

Perhaps a couple of wee food and water holders, away from one another.

Good idea, I thought of that a little bit ago as I was stirring them up to get up and eat. I did sprinkle food all over the bottom of the brooder a little so they might peck even out of curiosity and get a little something.

 

[Diamond Dan]

I agree multiple feeders spread around the brooder will allow slow an weaker chicks a better chanch to avoid getting pushed out and away from crowd.

 

[JaeG]

Always start with food scattered everywhere. They will peck the ground instinctively so if they can find food everywhere it really helps. After a few days they should have figured out where the food bowl is. Some people float chopped up grass in the water to give them something to peck at, but sometimes it does take persistence on your part to get them drinking. Every time you check on them tap the water. It should be enough to get some interested and others will follow the crowd. It isn't unusual to lose a few in a hatch as there always seems to be the odd weak one that just doesn't recover from hatching.

 

[lomine]

I like to put their feed in a food processor for the first week or so to grind it smaller. I think it makes it easier for them to find small enough pieces to eat as many times they will waste a lot of food if the pieces are too big. Plus they eat more.

I agree that you will want multiple feeders and waters all over the brooder. You might also want multiple heat sources so they don't pile up and crush each other to death.