Need Baby Button Advice

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

My friend gave me five little buttons yesterday, newborn. One died during the night, but it was very weak and i didn't think it would make it. i know nothing about raising buttons, so need some guidance. i have them in a small fishtank, with a heat lamp over the middle - temps ranging in the mid-nineties to 100. It's cooler on the sides, but they all seem to want to be right under the heat lamp. i have a quail waterer with marbles in it, but have only seen one quail drink, the biggest little guy. i have medicated chick starter, which i have put through a food processor, sprinkled on the ground near the side.

Below is a picture of my set-up. Does this seem okay? Is there a better situation in which to brood them? Does anyone have pictures of their brooder? How long does it take them to start eating and drinking? Should i be worried now that they don't seem to be eating and drinking? And, how long do they need to be under heat? Is it like baby chicks where you slowly take the temp down by five degrees each week?

i truly appreciate any and all input.

 

[Plain_View_Farm]

You seem on with your process, though you may need to dip their beaks in the water a few times to encourage them to drink.
Just be careful not to push their beak too far in that they inhale water up their nose. And jus tdip don't hold them there.
If their beak gets wet they will take water in. The first few days are critical to there survival. I take a few small plastic beads
and place them around in the scattered food so they peck them too. They will pick up bits of food that way.
I would also keep close watch on the temp. If it is going up to 100 you may want to move it back just a bit. They should be around 95 degrees
now and yes like pother poultry lower it 5 degrees a week.

Best of luck to you, Buttons re quite addictive.

David

 

[TriciaHowe]

With my button chicks I had to put chick starter in a grinder and make it smaller for them to eat. They weren't able to eat the larger pieces.

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

Well, feeling a little overwhelmed about now. One button is up and zooming around, eating, drinking. Two seem a little weak and are more flopping around. i have another who isn't moving a lot. i did dip everyone's beak in the water - not an easy task as they are sooooooo small! i gave the weak one a drink of water from a drop on my finger, but not sure what else to do.

 

[Plain_View_Farm]

Try taking a clean jar lid with marbles in it instead of the waterer until they ge tused to drinking.
That's a lot easier to dip their beaks.
You can also add a little sugar to the water for energy. Not much in a jar lid...

David

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

Thank you, will do that right now. Yes, the quail waterer seems too tall for them.

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

Thank you, David - it worked! The little weak one walked right up and took a drink.

 

[Plain_View_Farm]

That's GREAT!!!
Glad to help...

David

 

[spotsplus]

Looks like you have a good start

I keep my light closer and use a 75 watt bulb. If they are in a pile they are not warm enough. I like to see them all fuzzy and up and around like your pictures show

Tammie