My Broody Button Quail just hatched some chicks..

[Sunny the Hippie Chick]

Ya that was me..

I was thinking about covering it and trapping her in.. But the first hatched one got out of the door and walked towards her. All she did was panic and walk all over it.. I wouldnt be able to see what she was doing to them. I really dont know what to do.. This happened at a bad time of day.. I need to get my kids to bed.. I have to lay down with my youngest so he will go to sleep. So I cant keep an eye on the birds.. I can hear them chirping.. I have them sitting on top of my upright freezer. The motor of it keeps the top of it a bit warm. So hopefully that will help.. Im going to put a light above it soon.. I just hope they will be ok until I can get to it..

 

[Crazy4Chicks]

I have a broody hen sitting on 4 eggs now - but all my quail live in a group with several females taking turns sitting on the eggs and I have 4 males in with them - when all my hens are off the nest the males take turn keeping guard over the eggs - its very cute LOL

I had plans on moving my quail into smaller groups of 1 male to 3 females but now with everyone watching over the eggs I am going to wait and see what happens

If they hatch the babies and there seems to be problems I will move babies into the brooder that already has some button babies

 

[citalk2much]

She may just want them to move out of that nest.

 

[shelleyd2008]

Hmmm....maybe you should cover the cage with a towel or something? She could just be nervous, since the babies are most likely out in the open once they leave the nest. I would put a light on them though, you don't to lose them! Geez.....letting the birds hatch the eggs is supposed to be stress-free...this doesn't sound like it is at all!

 

[citalk2much]

Mine always move the nest after the babies hatch.

 

[citalk2much]

Mine always move the nest after the babies hatch.

 

[Sunny the Hippie Chick]

I took them out of the little house and into a uncovered nest and put a light on them to try to keep them warm. I am watching them from a distance. She just keeps walking back and forth. And calling for her mate I think. I read some where that the button quails instincts to be a parent have been breed out of them. She acts like she doesnt know what to do with them. But she sat on the eggs real well.. I think she should have the babies under her wings. But instead she is just running around.. I sure hope they are warm enough. They are still real wobbly and cant follow her around yet.

I just wanted to see if she would hatch the eggs. I never thought she would actually do it.. I might just have to break out the brooder. I sure was hoping that the babies would be parent raised though.. But the female was hatched in an incubator and not by a parent bird, so she may not know what to do.

Yes this does seem more stressful than hatching in an incubator..

 

[Sunny the Hippie Chick]

Good update. She is now caring for them and keeping the little ones under her to keep them warm.. Now I need to go grind some food for them. But she hasnt let them walk around yet today.. But maybe she will when I put food in there..

 

[shelleyd2008]

And what makes you think it's okay to give an update like that with no pics??

I'm glad she's come around. I plan to let my tiny OEGB hen hatch some quail eggs, in the hopes that those 'hen-hatched' quail would then brood their own eggs and chicks....It's worth a shot anyway!

Congrats on the babies! How many did she end up with?

 

[citalk2much]

I am with Shelley where are the pictures!