Help with hatchlings

[windsweptstina]

Hi folks

I've just hatched 18 Chinese painted quail...

They are in a cage brooder and had water from one of those mushroom feeders with pebbles in the bottom. I had to go out yesterday, and when I returned every single bird (day old) was soaked to the skin and lying dying. I managed to warm them up and dry them out, get them into a dry brooder and get them eating again. I have no idea what happened - only thing i can think is that feeder must've warmed up near the lamp (I wouldn't have thought it was close enough) and exploded - but there were no marks on it and surrounds of cage were dry.

Outcome was that when I got up this morning I'd lost two, which is fewer than I expected. A third was soaked through again, must've had another bath, hopefully I've saved him.

My question... What is the best water dish for them? Added complication is that I'm being taken into hospital tomorrow (4 weeks early) to have a baby and will be relying on others to look after feathered babies. This means the jam jar lid I currently have in there won't work as it'll dry out/empty too quickly before anyone can top it up.

I'm worried about leaving them, but have no choice

 

[CochinBrahmaLover]

'Mushroom feeder' ? Not sure what you mean by that, LOL, unless your talking about one of those standard feeders that have the big containers then the little... Well hard to explain, but these? XD

I'd say keep using that, w/ the marbles, but keep it way from the heat lamp. Or you can put a couple jam jars with marbles. Best of luck, and congrats!

 

[CochinBrahmaLover]

Ok so I googled mushroom waterer chick and I see what you mean... Did it seriously explode so you don't have one anymore? In that case I'd say either
A) use multpile jar lids
OR
B) if its just you and your current kids / just you and dad (or just you ? Idk your situation very well) then I'd bring the quail to the hospital. Yes yes, they can meet your daughter / son, have a great relationship
C) run out and buy a few new containers like the one I showed at first, and keep cool / room temp water it in, and keep it away from the heat lamp. I've never had it explode on me.

 

[Nichrome]

I would suggest a jar lid that is low enough for the little ones to drink from and marbles/pebbles that protrude above the water level. This will allow enough space for the quails to stick their little heads between the marbles and drink.

 

[GrandmaBird]

use a regular chicken chick waterer like the one pictured in cochin's post. but fill, and I mean FILL the edge with marbles or clean small rocks, above the water level, so the buttons can not get into the water but can get water from pecking between the rocks. hope this makes sense. even using this method you should change the water 2-3 times a day and do keep it, and the food, away from the heat source in the brooder.
good luck.