Help!!! Quail Chicks Died

[SunsetRider]

I hatched my first 2 batches of shipped coturnix eggs with 60 to 70 percent hatch. They are now 8 and 12 weeks old and doing very well. For my third batch I decided to test the fertility of the eggs produced by my quails. I set the first 2 dozen eggs...but only 5 hatched. I figured that could have been a fertility issue. The babies looked all dried and fluffy when I transfered them to the brooder. I saw them eating and drinking and running around in the brooder. However, after 4 or 5 days, they started to look like their downy fuzz was glued down...and they looked tired. By the end of the first week they stopped eating and drinking on their own. Despite my best efforts all 5 died by the end of the 2nd week.

I would like to know what could have caused it...what did I do wrong. Any suggestions may help me avoid the same problem with the next batch.

BTW - I used the same incubator and brooder that I used for the previous batches. I tried to sterilize them but maybe I did not do such a good job before starting the new batch...could that be it???

 

[PECULIARPETE]

I wouldn`t beat yourself up about it. Quail just do that sometimes? they all look fine then just start dying? Did you start them on a medicated starter? It happens, I`ve heard of breeders losing a whole bunch more than five. As far as fertility goes I read and tried and it seems to work is to keep collected eggs out for about 5 days before you set em. Something happens in the dehydration period the first couple of days. Maybe something to do withrehydration when they are first put in the bator?IDK? But I`d like to find out.... just try again, the good thing bout coturnix is that they always make more. LOL huh

 

[SunsetRider]

Thanks for your response Pete.

No!!! I did not start them on medicated feed. I read both opinons here and chose not to use medicated feed...

I appreciate the tip about the 5 day holding period...will keep that in mind next time.

 

[becky3086]

Just check the usual things before you try again: brooder temperature and make sure they can't fall in the water.

 

[JJMR794]

You Said Their Down Looked Slicked Back? Sounds Like They May Have Gotten Wet At Some Point? They Are Kinda Clumbsy At The Earlier Ages And Do Fall Into Water Fonts Easily. If They Do Fall In And Dont Drown In The Water, And They Dont Die From Hypothermia From Getting Soaked They Can Certainly Aspirate (breath In) Some Water Which Will Lead To A Pnuemonia And Kill Them A Couple Days Later. Idk? Maybe Grasping At Straws Here But That Sounds Plausible From The Small Amount Of Info I Read Here. It Could Also Be A Contagen Transferred To Them From The Hatcher Or Brooder. Next Time You Use Either Soak Them In Bleach Water For 30 Minutes And Then Let Them Air Dry--- That Will Kill Any Infectious Agents In Your Equipment. You Can Also Be A Source Of Contamination As You Handle Other Birds And Then Bring Disease Back To The Lil Guys Who Have Much Less Immunity To Fight Infections....

I Cant Tell You What To Do, But I Can Tell You What Works Here For Me--- I Feed Only Gamebird Starter (non Medicated) Throughout Their Entire Life Span. Once A Week They Get Vitamin And Mineral Suppliment Added To Their Water After They Are About 5-7 Dys Old And Again Each Time They Are Under Stress ( Moving To New Pens, Being Pinioned, Etc..) I Also Suppliment The Layers Or Adult Birds With Vit C In Their Water Every Other Day As Well As Chick Grit And Crushed Oyster Shell Periodically. I Do Give 'em A Lil Scratch Grains As Treats As Well As Greens But Only After They Are Full Grown.(babies Will Choke On Grains And Die)

This Works Great For Me Here, Maybe Some Of These Will Halp You At Your Location??? Good Luck

Oh And Yes They Do Seem To Have A Higher Hatch Rate If You Hold The Eggs For A Few Days Before Setting -- Idk Why? But It's True..

 

[saddina]

My first batch were sucidial, they loved nothing as much as SLEEPING in the waterer. I got some of those finch waterers at the pet store (just big enough for thier beaks to go in) and velcroed it to the brooder wall so they couldn't tip it over and soak themselves. Batch 2 stayed dry and breathing.

 

[becky3086]

Ah, yet another great idea!

 

[SunsetRider]

Thanks everyone for your tips and encouragement...much appreciated!!! I will do some more cleanup before setting the next batch. I will also provide them with more supplements...as mentioned by JJMR794. I have not been doing much of that.