good button hatch but 2 died on day three...

[_lizzer_]

So, I had a fairly good had on button eggs. 16 of 24 hatched.

They seemed to be doing alright, but there were a couple that seemed smaller/weaker than the rest.

This morning when I woke up, I found two babies dead in the brooder. One was a weak one that I had already noticed, and the other seemed fine the day before. I have another runt that was born the day after the rest, and he seems very weak. He is eating and drinking though. I separated him from the rest a little while ago because he was getting trampled.

Is this normal for a few of the weaker buttons to die? Or is there something wrong with them? I have heard some horror stories on here of a few quail dying, the next thing you know half are keeled over.

Any suggestions?

Also, I have observed them eating and drinking. The food is ground up small so they can eat it. Marbles in the waterer. Brooder at 95 degrees. They aren't huddled up or shivering. The brooder is clean.

 

[eggsrcool]

Sorry to hear your 2 quail died. I always expect some to die in the first few days, in my last hatch- about 25 4 died- on was culled the others got attacked trampled etc.. If anymore die then it could be a cause for concern. The brooder sounds fine. I hope no more die

 

[londonbridges]

hi'
sorry about the loss of some of your chicks,it sounds like you are doing everything you can do . this hppens when you hatch chicks quail ,pheasants,or any other fowl. ihave lost some button quail at 3 or 4weeks,what my older chicks do,isthey get listless and puff their feathers up,iadd alittle applecider vinager totheir water and it seems tobring them out of it,iwould not give this tosmall chicks though.

 

[shelleyd2008]

Hey lizzer, I know this is an older post, but I also know you are now getting eggs of your own? I think the problem you had was partly due to the low brooder temp. Quail chicks should have a brooder about 100* the first few days at least. If they get cold, they pile on top of each other (or burrow underneath on another), which leads to the smaller ones dying. So be sure to keep the brooder at 100 degrees under the light, until they start moving away from it, then lower the temp. Hope you have better luck in the future

 

[_lizzer_]

I am getting lots of eggs of my own now! Well, I had to switch cages, so no eggs for about four days now, but I think they'll get over it.

I have a pair seperated (because the male is NASTY to the rest of the buttons, except his 'girlfriend') and I get an egg everyday from my girl.

I have the rest in a BIG guinea pig cage, it working great. I have 11 right now, but I only want about six. Thinking of maybe selling them. Who knows.

Thanks though Shelley & londonbridges!