My Chicks all Died

[theostofski]

I have a very strange and interesting problem that may be hard for y'all country folk to understand. I live in Manhattan new york in a small apartment and I decided to raise quails as pets!?!? I have provided them with a reasonable 6ft by 2ft Brooder. their water supply is always accessible though they don't seem to drink it, To solve this I drop fed them water every hour. Their food supplies are made up of A few live Crickets, Dried mealworms, and Wagner's wild bird feed (The mealworms and seed are ground together) they seemed to be happy until one by one they all died over a 2 week period. their water supplies had a few vitamins to keep them in shape and they never showed signs of being too cold or too hot I can't seem to find a reason for there death...

(Forgive misspells and grammar issue I'm Scottish English is my second language)

(I will respond to as many responses as possible)
(I speak Scottish Gaelic and recently learned English I know English is spoken in Scotland)

 

[Kiki]

Poor things.

Please do not get any more birds until you can find proper feed and a chick waterer.

You are either killing them by dropping water in their mouth or by malnutrition from your made up feed.

 

[casportpony]

Really 95 Fahrenheit is to hot??

It's been a long time since I had quail, and when I did, I did not measure the temperature, I watched their behavior and adjusted the lamp until they were like the ones in the middle.

 

[NatJ]

their water supply is always accessible though they don't seem to drink it, To solve this I drop fed them water every hour.

I do not know what kind of waterer you have, but there are special waterers sold for baby quail. Here is a link to a picture of one:
https://www.mypetchicken.com/catalo...roof-Chick-Waterer-Plastic-1-quart-p1842.aspx

If you put some marbles in it (little round glass balls), the chicks will often peck the shiny marbles, get a mouthful of water, and figure out how to drink for themselves.

Also when I feed them water they act like its the end of the world if they don't drink it but when given they chick waterer they refrain from getting 3cm from it

I would put probably have the chick waterer in the pen before ever putting the baby quail in, and then leave it there all the time. Of course take it out to rinse & refill, but put it right back afterward. Birds are often scared of new things, so you want it to be a "normal thing" for them, not a new scary thing.

Their food supplies are made up of A few live Crickets, Dried mealworms, and Wagner's wild bird feed (The mealworms and seed are ground together) they seemed to be happy until one by one they all died over a 2 week period.

You would probably have better results if you bought a food specifically designed for feeding quail (it might be labeled "gamebird starter.")

Quail are so small you would not need a large amount, so you could order it online if no local stores carry it.

I tried looking up Wagner's wild bird feed online, and I see that it's meant for some kinds of adult birds. It is not meant for tiny baby birds of any kind.

their water supplies had a few vitamins to keep them in shape and they never showed signs of being too cold or too hot I can't seem to find a reason for there death...

Any signs of them being sick? Did specific chicks seem extra-sleepy shortly before they died? Did any of them have blood in their poop?

Just to be sure about temperature, did you check it with a thermometer? What temperature was the warm part of the brooder? What temperature was the cool part? (Farenheit or Celsius works, just tell which one you're using.)

If the temperature was badly wrong, I would have expected them to die in just a day or two. With some surviving up to 2 weeks, I think the food was the problem. It was not completely wrong, because some of them did live for a while, but it was quite right either. I really think you would have better results if you just buy gamebird starter for your next batch, at least for while they are growing up.

 

[Kiki]

I'm Picking MalNourished Thank you very much I think that pretty much concludes this thread thanks I'll try again in spring more ready for what is to come!

10 lb GAMEBIRD Starter Feed 30% Protein Chick Guinea Turkey Quail CHUKAR https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071H2RJMG/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_i_OlZEFbX2RTMZH

 

[Kiki]

I know that if they get wet they will die but why wouldn't they need water just because its cool does not means its humid

Are they aware you don't think the birds need water? Is that what you are saying here...that they don't need water because it's humid?

 

[Kiki]

ok so I dipped their beaks and they still would not touch it... I ground up the food does that work as well as grit or should I get grit and I make sure the water is warm everyday

You are feeding them the wrong stuff. It you fed them the correct type of feed they wouldn't need grit.

 

[neo71665]

madainn mhath. (thats all I really know)

You should really do more research on raising quails before you try to get any more.

 

[Kiki]

I will write to you In this thread if my roommate allows us to try incubating again!

For now, I would like more questions and suggestions on why my chicks may have died!

Your chicks died because they were:

Dehydrated
Over heated
Or
Malnourished.

Take your pick.

 

[Kiki]

I have heard they are harder to raise by several sources (both friends and fowl experts) but I have no experience with quail personally. If I'm not mistaken, chickens have been domesticated for a very long time but quail have not so they retain more wildness therefore aren't as adaptable to captivity.

I am an expert quail raiser.
They are NOT harder to raise than chickens.