I am the worst quail mommy ever

[Sill]

My pair of buttonss just recently hatched two chicks, the second of which I'd helped out of her shell. I have a plate of fine-ground crumble inside the pen to make it easier for the chicks to eat. It also has a ceramic bowl with food for the parents, and a small water dish with marbles for the chicks to drink.

I had just put in fresh food for them all and placed the plate inside the pen without looking where it was going. I accidentally squished the second chick when I did that, and she suffocated. I didn't see her when I went to check on them and tore the area surrounding the pen apart, thinking she'd escaped. Then I lifted the plate and saw her cold flattened little body. I am so sorry little baby! God I feel awful and can't stop crying.

I did exactly that with one of my first batch of cots. I put the feeder in and they all ran the other way...except that one that went under the feeder and didn't see until it was too late. They are so tiny and fragile it doesn't take much kill one.

I accidentally sucked one up with a shop vac once. He didn't make it.

Oh my, that one definitely went the direction when the "monster" came around.

 

[DaisyQ12]

Yesterday I accidentally did a big no no and left their cage open for three whole hours till checking on them. They're two and a half weeks old and love testing their wings so whenever I open the cage they'll hop around and try to get out of the door. I had to count them three times but was so relieved to find that all ten of them were there. I'll have to be super careful to not do that, I guess I'm a forgetful mum

 

[WaterfowlWierdo]

Yesterday I accidentally did a big no no and left their cage open for three whole hours till checking on them. They're two and a half weeks old and love testing their wings so whenever I open the cage they'll hop around and try to get out of the door. I had to count them three times but was so relieved to find that all ten of them were there. I'll have to be super careful to not do that, I guess I'm a forgetful mum

I am terrible about that.....not with chicks, but adults.....One time I collected eggs before bedtime, and forgot to close the door.....I ended up loosing like 7 birds total.....It was in the middle of winter too so most of them were in the drain holes on the side of the house looking for cover

 

[COsteveo]

Yesterday I accidentally did a big no no and left their cage open for three whole hours till checking on them. They're two and a half weeks old and love testing their wings so whenever I open the cage they'll hop around and try to get out of the door. I had to count them three times but was so relieved to find that all ten of them were there. I'll have to be super careful to not do that, I guess I'm a forgetful mum

I did that with 2 week olds for just two minutes while washing and refilling their waterer. One hopped out but I guess it got scared to be alone and waited for me to come back. Didn't think it was capable of that, and I learned my lesson. It was good that I closed the door behind me so the cat wasn't there.

Now they are nearing 4 weeks and I just watch them crouch, wiggle their tails, and launch themselves into the hardware cloth. I've taken them out to weigh them and none can fly, but boy do they try. I had the heat lamp resting on the hardware cloth but had to hang it... I'm afraid they'll break the bulb with all their jumping