Tori, is that ring snooze thing they're doing BObwhite behavior or something that's the second time ive seen it...first time i saw it was in an artwork painting of adults in the snow. If it's a behavior thing then i assume it's so that all can keep their eyes out for predators. So adorable to see it done in babies!!!! They are gorgeous!!!!
Okay so only two more have hatched, both coturnix but the one button that hatched never seemed to dry, I finally just moved it to the brooder thinking maybe it would dry better there as it just keeps rolling around but cant get to it's feet. Well one of the dry coturnix grabbed it by its wing and wouldnt let go! I had to move it to a little box inside the brooder. I don't know if its going to make it or not and it just got swung around by the coturnix , I was worried the wing would be ripped off!
What do you guys think, do buttons take longer to recover from hatching or does this guy have problems?
With my buttons, they usually are up and running in no time. The ones that I have had that were a bit slower usually did not make it. Is it possible the baby has some egg goo stuck to it? That could make it look wet. What type of flooring do you have for them? They seem to do better when they are put on shavings right from the start. I would keep it seperated until you know if it is going to make it, no sense letting the bigger coturnix beat it up.
Oh, and if the chick is sticky, that could make the eyes unable to open. Take a warm washcloth and gently wipe the baby off. But definitely keep the baby seperated for now.
And I'm sorry. If it's the only one, it may be just as well. I know that sounds harsh, but it's true. The coturnix may play nice, but you never know. Keep us posted.
Niki, I don't know if that ring was because the light was too low and it was too hot, or what. I've seen them do it as chicks, but as adults they seem to just bunch together. I needed to clean the aquarium, but I didn't have the heart to disturb them. I think it's sweet.
Okay, I wiped him with warm water on the wet areas, he seems to be drying better, since he was still in the hatcher most of the time, it was on shelf liner, in the brooder I had paper towel over shavings, so I put shelf liner down with a layer of shavings and he looks better. First picture is how he has been looking, wet with his legs sprawled behind him. Now after wash and put on shavings... he looks better, I'll give him some time now and see how he does.
I really didnt think those button eggs would hatch! oh well...
Before
After
Thanks for the help! Oh and Tori, loved the pics! That ring is cool!
I think they like the overnight hatching. I'll post some pics later tonight, heading to my Mom's to paint her living room! The little button is still hanging in there, I'll give him through the weekend and see if he gets any better.