I need some help... :)

[Robotponys]

Ok, I hatched 2 coturnix chicks and they are now 9 days old.

One of them seems to have a leg problem (lying flat on the ground, when put down seems to weak to lift it's head?) but the other is very happy. The other is happy and healthy (cheeps a lot though) and both have feathers growing in at an alarming rate!

This is my first time hatching ANYTHING (not even fish lol). I think I will have to give them to a farm because my mom is convinced it is cruel to keep them indoors...

So if I have to get rid of them, I will be getting button quail eventually. This time I will be prepared though, with a bought incubator (Brinsea mini Eco maybe?) (button quail are more delicate right? And proper food

). I am feeding them hard-boiled/scrmbled eggs with the shell, nutritional yeast, uncooked red rice, and calcium phosphate. Is this healthy? I don't think I should send them off so soon because the farmer we got the eggs from thought you incubated at 95... So I don't want them to die because she definetly has no brooder, but I will attempt too.

With button quail which cage will work better for a pair from chick to adult? Ok, a blue rubbermaid tub (dimensions 12" long, 10.5" wide, and 8" tall). With a mesh lid and a 40 watt incandescent lamp for brooding. Or: http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2752728
(the medium one is 3 sq feet and I like this one a lot). Maybe the rubbermaid for brooding and the wire cage for adult? Or does it not matter. Ok water and food. PLEASE tell me where I can get quail feed for a reasonable price. I need it shipped to 10013, there are no feed mills around manhattan and I can't drive yet lol.

Feed will be supplied from this: http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=11147486&lmdn=Product+Type#prodTab1 And water through this: http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2755135&lmdn=Product+Type#prodTab1 If I can't get the dry feed, it will be homemade stuff which will need to be supplied through a dish. Please, post opinions, comments, and all that jazz

. Thanks in advance!

Edit: The sickly chick is on Death's door

If I try nudging it, it can't stand and it's head is lolling around.

Edit 2: The sickly chick died

 

[TheRealTimShady]

best thing to do with the chick is to just cull it, it won't have a very long life. Its not fun, but it is something that probably has to be done.


as far as the buttons, i'd make sure the distance between the wires, anything bigger then 1/2" gap they can probably squeeze thru. I feed my buttons Gamebird Starter, i know you said that you can't drive and there are no feed stores around, i use to buy feed off of amazon, it was a little more expensive, now i buy Purina GBS from the feed store for 16 bucks for 50lbs.

quaillady puts oyster shell GRIT and Finch seed in with it for more nutrients.

and yes buttons are VERY delicate, i don't even hold mine b/c i always feel like i'm going to crush them. the food feeder you are thinking about probably won't work b/c of different size stuff they will be getting. best thing to use is a Chick feeder. there is someone on the forums that makes custom feeders that are the BEST i've seen tho i can't remember his name off the top of my head, quaillady also uses them so she might have a better answer.


hope it helps

 

[Stellar]

Quote:
First off, you are not feeding the coturnix the proper diet. Coturnix need gamebird crumbles. You can keep coturnix indoors and out. They make great pets. Button quail will also need gamebird crumbles to live a long life. Adding finch seeds and oyster shells is essential as well. Jar lids work great as feeders and there are some custom ones as well. Chick feeders work as well. I recommend water bottles as your water reservoir.

For brooders, the rubbermaid containers work well but for adults, parakeet cages (with the wire bottoms removed) or hamster cages are ideal as cages for pairs. Some people house them in fish tanks but make sure there is proper ventilation as too much ammonia buildup can result in health issues.

 

[mhwc56]

you should NEVER feed a bird uncooked rice...it will absorb moisture and swell. wild birds have actually EXPLODED from eating uncooked rice...like what is thrown at weddings....

 

[Robotponys]

Quote:
Thanks, but I could NEVER purposefully kill an animal, except fish. lolz. BUt sickly chick died anyway so... D:

 

[Robotponys]

Quote:
:O didn't realize! But this is wild wholesome rice. I ate it and it barely swelled, maybe a cm. Plus it's only a little bit of their diet
But thanks

 

[Robotponys]

Quote:
First off, you are not feeding the coturnix the proper diet. Coturnix need gamebird crumbles. You can keep coturnix indoors and out. They make great pets. Button quail will also need gamebird crumbles to live a long life. Adding finch seeds and oyster shells is essential as well. Jar lids work great as feeders and there are some custom ones as well. Chick feeders work as well. I recommend water bottles as your water reservoir.

For brooders, the rubbermaid containers work well but for adults, parakeet cages (with the wire bottoms removed) or hamster cages are ideal as cages for pairs. Some people house them in fish tanks but make sure there is proper ventilation as too much ammonia buildup can result in health issues.

Thanks for your input.

Sadly I was not prepared AT ALL for the chicks. My mom decided to pick them up on the way back from vacation, so... Yeah and of course, she doesn't believe in commercial food so I'll be doing some slave labor for her LOL!

 

[TheRealTimShady]

Quote:
First off, you are not feeding the coturnix the proper diet. Coturnix need gamebird crumbles. You can keep coturnix indoors and out. They make great pets. Button quail will also need gamebird crumbles to live a long life. Adding finch seeds and oyster shells is essential as well. Jar lids work great as feeders and there are some custom ones as well. Chick feeders work as well. I recommend water bottles as your water reservoir.

For brooders, the rubbermaid containers work well but for adults, parakeet cages (with the wire bottoms removed) or hamster cages are ideal as cages for pairs. Some people house them in fish tanks but make sure there is proper ventilation as too much ammonia buildup can result in health issues.

Thanks for your input.

Sadly I was not prepared AT ALL for the chicks. My mom decided to pick them up on the way back from vacation, so... Yeah and of course, she doesn't believe in commercial food so I'll be doing some slave labor for her LOL!

i hate to say it, but if you don't get some GBS(gamebird starter) there is NO WAY the bird will get the right nutrients, Purina makes a GREAT product that you should check out.

 

[Robotponys]

Quote:
Thanks for your input.

Sadly I was not prepared AT ALL for the chicks. My mom decided to pick them up on the way back from vacation, so... Yeah and of course, she doesn't believe in commercial food so I'll be doing some slave labor for her LOL!

i hate to say it, but if you don't get some GBS(gamebird starter) there is NO WAY the bird will get the right nutrients, Purina makes a GREAT product that you should check out.

Ok i will asap i dont want another chick gone.

 

[Robotponys]

Quote:
i hate to say it, but if you don't get some GBS(gamebird starter) there is NO WAY the bird will get the right nutrients, Purina makes a GREAT product that you should check out.

Ok i will asap i dont want another chick gone.

Do they ship? I cant get it around here that I know of, only cat and dog food lol. Manhattan doesn't have many flocks, especially chinatown. Also which one for quail?