HELP!!! Quail orphan!

[AllyH]

Hi!

My husband found a baby quail at 11 pm last night arresting a drunk driver. The thing followed him around even after several attempts to leave it alone. He said that the baby was going to freeze to death. So long story short he arrived this morning with this sweet little thing, and I have no idea how to take care of it! (I do better with horses and such!) Right now, it is in a card board box hiding in a t shirt, on top of my heating blanket. Going to stop by my local feed store to try and set up a brooder thing. Please any info will help, I have been spending all morning doing research. But any tips will be helpful. I would like to keep this as a pet, looking to build a hutch for it when it is older. Thanks in advance!

Ally

 

[Nichrome]

Hi Ally!

That little cute thing might get you a very contagious disease called "quailraisingus"

1st important question...does it have feathers or down (down is that fluffy cotton like coat chicks are covered with)?

If it has down...have you got what you call "a brooder thing" yet?

If it has feathers, keep it relatively warm (approx 30C), give it crushed game food and water and it will raise itself!

Let us know how it goes!

 

[AllyH]

Well, I have yet to get a good look at it, but it is TINY!!!! Like.....SO tiny. In the videos I was watching just now, it looks like it is a day old. So probably down...I have only had it for 2 hours now...waiting for the stores to open. It is 8 AM now where I live. Thanks so much for your fast reply!!!!

 

[AllyH]

Another question: Will this bird be ok raised alone?

 

[Nichrome]

So most probably it is down.

Have you got a box, a lamp shade with a 40W bulb and a thermometer? Look up in youtube and you'll find plenty of brooder ideas! CONSIDER THE RISK OF FLAMES

 

[TwoCrows]

Start the heat out somewhere between 95 and 97 degrees. You can use any cardboard box that is a couple feet wide. Don't cover the lid of the brooder with anything but a screen or wire. Keep the heat on one side and the food and water on the other side so he has to leave the heat to get to the goods.

Use a chick waterer or put marbles or tiny stones in a regular water font, as quail are notorious for falling in and drowning. You can even use a jelly jar lid with tiny stones in it. Get some gamebird food and crush it up so he can eat it. Lay paper towels down on the brooder floor and sprinkle the feed all around the feeder area so he can find the food. Dip his beak in the water so he knows where the water is. After a few days of finding the food, you can remove the paper towels. Y.u can use wood shavings or grass hay for bedding. Something along these lines.

Lower the heat 5 degrees each week till he is 6 weeks old.

Single raised quail will not die. But they can get lonely. So I suggest a feather duster turned up side down and propped in the corners, feathers down, so he can snuggle in, as if he were with his momma. You can even put in small stuffed animals for companionship. If you have a tiny mirror, you can prop that up as well on the floor so he thinks he is not alone.

You can keep lone quail as house pets. Work with him as a baby, just as you would a chicken chick. He will adapt and become part of the family.

Good luck!

 

[AllyH]

Thank you two crows! I heated up a corn pillow sack cause this little guy is cold.... I will see if I can share the picture.

 

[TwoCrows]

He is going to need a lot more than a warm pillow. Try to get him under a brooding lamp.

 

[Nichrome]

Or maybe until the store opens, a hot-water bottle in a towel!

 

[AllyH]

Ok got it all set up with a heating lamp and wild game bird food. It's eating and drinking well. Has a mirror and a little stuffed bear for a stand in momma.