Help with a chick not thriving

[Crystal Chicken]

I had a couple of quail hatch out Monday morning. Unfortunately my cat heard them before I did and proceeded to knock down the incubator and killed the other chick and one chick was dis. The one remaining seems spunky and is moving around and doing freshly hatched quail things, but I am worried as it hasn't tried to eat or drink on its own yet. All it wants is to stay cozy. I have tried to get it some vitamin water to help recover from the trauma of its hatching and it will drink a tiny bit of it if i stick its beak in it. I tried some mash this morning and it tried to eat for a second (while I was holding it) but gave up quickly. It doesn't peck at anything just out of curiosity or anything just constantly trying to find a way to stay cozy. It's still pretty wobbly for 48 hours old. Thinking about adding some sugar water?
Anything else I could try?

 

[horror_trashcan]

Does it have a heat source? I'm not sure about quail but when chicks hatch they have yolk to sustain them for a day or two but it should probably be eating by now, especially drinking.

 

[Nabiki]

By 48 hours it should be eating and drinking. One thing that might be a problem is that it's alone. Quail are social, so a single chick will often have problems. You can try giving it a lot of attention and tapping your finger on food and water to encourage it.

I would also recommend a small stuffed animal and a mirror until you can get it company. If you can't find chicks in your area (which might be hard this time of year), maybe you can rehome it with someone who already has quail.

 

[Crystal Chicken]

Does it have a heat source? I'm not sure about quail but when chicks hatch they have yolk to sustain them for a day or two but it should probably be eating by now, especially drinking.

I have been just putting in back in the incubator as I didn't want it alone in the bigger brooder. I will try setting up something smaller for it, with some fake friends.

 

[Crystal Chicken]

By 48 hours it should be eating and drinking. One thing that might be a problem is that it's alone. Quail are social, so a single chick will often have problems. You can try giving it a lot of attention and tapping your finger on food and water to encourage it.

I would also recommend a small stuffed animal and a mirror until you can get it company. If you can't find chicks in your area (which might be hard this time of year), maybe you can rehome it with someone who already has quail.

I've been giving it as much attention as possible. I have it out with ne constantly and I'll hold it in my hand while trying to encourage eating a drinking. It seems to struggle swallowing as it gasps and shakes it's head a lot when attempting to eat or drink. I'm guessing it is not going to last too long.

 

[Nabiki]

I have been just putting in back in the incubator as I didn't want it alone in the bigger brooder. I will try setting up something smaller for it, with some fake friends.

You don't have a heater for the brooder? The chick needs a heat source. You want to start in the high 90s and gradually drop the temperature. They can handle room temperature by about 3 weeks.

 

[Crystal Chicken]

You don't have a heater for the brooder? The chick needs a heat source. You want to start in the high 90s and gradually drop the temperature. They can handle room temperature by about 3 weeks.

Not what I said. I just didn't want it to be alone in the big brooder. I've set up a smaller box with a heating pad for it for now. I've raised chicks and quail previously, just never dealt with a lone one.

 

[Nabiki]

Not what I said. I just didn't want it to be alone in the big brooder. I've set up a smaller box with a heating pad for it for now. I've raised chicks and quail previously, just never dealt with a lone one.

Sorry, I misunderstood.

I would be careful with the heating pad. I've seen pictures of chicks that have lost toes because their little feet can't handle the heat.

 

[Crystal Chicken]

Sorry, I misunderstood.

I would be careful with the heating pad. I've seen pictures of chicks that have lost toes because their little feet can't handle the heat.

It's all good

I am not sure what they would have been using that would cause that. The one I have is one that a person would use. It's soft like a fleece on the outside. I just wrap a puppy pad around it and fold it over a bit so they can cozy up under it. I've used it many times and never had an issue. I also put it on a low setting. It gets quite warm but they go in and out as they please. It's worked quite well for me.

Unfortunately the little guy passed away. It never really started eating. It seemed to have a lot of trouble swallowing and would shake It's head a lot while trying to drink and would end up with water coming out it's nose and blowing bubbles. It just wasn't stron enough or had too much trauma or something.

Thanks for the help.

 

[Nabiki]

I'm sorry for your loss.