I have Japanese quail, and decided I wanted some more. I bought an incubator, turned the eggs three times a day religiously, kept it at 99 degrees, and the humidity at 50 then 70 before hatching. I let them drt off before I put them in their nursery. The temperature is 90 at the hottest spot, 80 in the shaded area I made. They have game bird chow and a waterer. Everything was fine till three days after the first hatched, he started chirping constantly, then that night he got sluggish and right before dinner I checked on them, he had passed away. That night the second died in my hands, same symptoms. Now this morning I found number 3 has gone to quail heaven. I have raised chickens to adult hood without a problem even let a hen do it herself once. Now these little babies are dying in front of me. I tried grinding the food up thinking they couldn't eat the big pieces, two hours with a bowl and spoon. I need help, I'm disabled and these birds are my life, I hate knowing it could be my fault they are dying.
Welcome to BYC! Please make yourself at home and we are here to help. I'm so sorry about your babies! I'm no help with quail but here's some links for you to post in https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/10/emergencies-diseases-injuries-and-cures https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/48/quail Hope you can save them!
Glad you joined us! I'm sorry about your quail chicks. I would definitely post their problems in the emergencies section and the quail section. Good luck!
Hello there and welcome to BYC! I am sorry about your quail babies. You need to lay down paper towels and sprinkle crushed feed all over the floor so they can find it for several days. Tap with your fingers like you are eating it. Quail are not at all smart like chicken chicks and can starve to death. Dip everybody's beaks in the water too. They will never find the water unless you do this. Do this a couple times that first day. Do not cover the brooder with anything but a screen or wire for good heat and oxygen exchange. Bring the temp up to 95 as well. Quail need more heat than chicken chicks. Use a thermometer you know is accurate. Are these your eggs or were they shipped?
Thank you. It was my first post and I put it in the wrong place. In answer, no these eggs are from my adult quail. I put the light closer and dipped their beask in the water. I also put the foodn a paper towel. My brooderhas tall walls so I didn't cover it. ThaThank you sooooo much
Welcome to BYC! You will find a lot of good information. Ask a question and you will get many good answers. Read the FAQ below.
You may want to visit "Other Backyard Poultry" forum which included guineas,quail, peafowl, ducks, geese etc. When you find the quail thread post your questions on it. I would think the heat and humidity rules differ for quail and chickens.