My first Quail. A mini blog.

[pac]

Excellent.
Will it be bigger in a day (easier to handle)?
I suppose I could try it now... I got nothing better to do

 

[Nabiki]

Excellent.
Will it be bigger in a day (easier to handle)?
I suppose I could try it now... I got nothing better to do

The sooner it gets taped, the better the results.

 

[pac]

I gave it my best effort without killing the poor thing.
When I put him back in the incubator he keeled right over with his eyes shut he was so worn out. Only opening them when #1 bumped into him. Which he does pretty frequently.

I could not get the toes splayed like in those chicken pics, but they are straight and the spur is free.

Here he is thirty minutes later. I tried to shape the tape as if the toes were splayed to give him more stability.

And really, with all this handling, plus the other one born overnight, I'm wondering if they can go in the brooder. They seem dry.
But I also saw someone say that chick activity can encourage the other eggs... They certainly have an area cleared out for themselves, lol.

 

[pac]

Interesting thread.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/quail-chick-curled-feet-please-help.377322/

Several members say they straighten themselves out after a couple days.
And several say to tape.

 

[Nabiki]

If they're dry, I'd put them in the brooder.

 

[pac]

Done.
I just moved them in.

#1 ate a little and is checking everything out, even the small vent holes still a little above his head.
Duck foot is just hunkered down. He doesn't seem to move as much with his shoes on. And pecks at them.

Still no other eggs doing anything.

 

[pac]

 

[Nabiki]

View attachment 4088300

That floor looks awfully slick. Paper towels don't provide a good surface and can cause leg issues. Can you put down some grippy shelf liner?

 

[pac]

I do have some left. But none to replace it with while cleaning.
They both seemed to get their toes stuck in it in the incubator.

I used the blue shop towels because "those on YT" said to use those over the regular white paper towels because the blue isn't as slippery. And it isn't.
Quail #1 isn't slipping at all when he's running around. Although I'm sure they aren't grippy on painters tape.

Not meaning to debate, but the shop towels seem fine. If you aren't familiar with them I don't think they are as slick as it looks.

 

[pac]

So here's the update.

Duck foot wasn't even trying to move. He seemed content with the occasional hop/flop and then he'd stay put again. So I took the tape off. Tape, no tape, a few hours, a couple days... It seems opinions are all over the place. Like most things. And now I have my own firsthand experience.

After a few hours the toes were straight. But like when taping them up, taking the tape off had whooped the little guy. When I put him back into the brooder he basically took some short naps without moving much.

Thirty minutes later and he was over in the food eating. And standing up straight "most" of the time. When he did walk it was gingerly. Probably no strength in his legs yet. But he was moving. And very active otherwise, biting at the newspaper edges with his buddy, getting a drink of water... doing quail things.

But man the first hatched quail, the smaller of the two, sure picks on him. He was even biting at his feet after the tape came off. He's a little stinker.

I hope some more hatch overnight.