need help.day old bobwhite quail dropping like flies

[rankg]

I got 50 day olds today. Have already lost 7.

they have feed, water, temp is good. they just keep dying.

They are in a wooden crate with stall dry and shavings (not cedar) feed is ground to a fine powder. they seem to be drinking water fine.

 

[gamebirdsonly]

This is why I stopped raising Quail. They die just because seems be no reason. Sorry about your loses.

 

[rankg]

thanks, I am heartbroken that I can't even keep them alive 15hrs.

 

[RHGamebird]

I have been told its bad to keep quail in shavings because they will eat it and choke. I have my quail on chopped straw. You could use feed as bedding temp and see if that helps. It's a little expensive but it's absorbent. Hope things work out for you

 

[rankg]

I woke to to one more dead. Total of 11 gone. I took your advice, changed bedding. I laid 4 sheets of newspaperto hide shavings and then nonskid shelf liner. (all newspaper is covered) I hope this is a step in the right direction

 

[TwoCrows]

What is the exact temp in your brooder and where is the gauge located? It should be 97 degrees starting at hatch and lowered by 5 degrees each week til they are 6 weeks old. The gauge should be located directly beneath the heat source. Use a red bulb or infra red bulb. It will keep them calmer and allow for a natural sleep pattern. Keep the heat source off to one side of the brooder and the feed and water off to the other. That way they have to leave the heat to get to the goods. What size is your brooder? It should be large enough that there are cool edges in the brooder and they are not crammed in, and not so large that there are drafts. For 50 babies, you are going to need a fairly large brooder. Do not cover the lid of the brooder with anything but a screen or wire for good heat and oxygen exchange. Use only a solid walled and floored brooder.

Dip everybodies beak in the water right out of the brooder. Very important. That will help them find the water.

Shavings are ok, but not until after a week. Lay down paper towels and sprinkle feed all around the feeder on the floor. Make sure it is small enough to eat.

 

[rankg]

The brooder is 4'x 2.5'. Temp is 98 directly under the red bulb. No lid (brooder is 24" deep).

I am fairly certain I have dipped all beaks. hard to keep track, but I have tried.

Another appears to be dying in the corner. I tried syringe feeding water with electrolytes yestrday to the dying birds but it made no difference

 

[TwoCrows]

There are a few things that kill babies within the first few days of hatching....bacterial infections stemming from the incubator or brooder, over heating, drafts, and not finding the water or food.

Lower the temp to 97 or 96 degrees. Doesn't sound like a lot, but with all those babies, they may be over heating.

This is quickly going to become a very small space for 50 babies. Make sure to have several water and feed stations so there is no competition for food or water. If they are not able to drink enough or eat enough, this will kill them quick.

What EXACTLY do they look like as they are dying? Any other symptoms?

Is this the first time you used your incubator or has it been used before? If it has seen hatches in the past, have you thoroughly fumigated it? Bacteria love warm wet places and this sort of thing will kill babies within the first days of their lives. Same with the brooder.

If this was my situation, I would steer myself toward setting up another brooder. I would be thinking that they are too cramped in, it is too hot, and they are not able to access the water or feed properly. 50 babies need a ton of room.

 

[rankg]

They get very still, I notice they lie down in a corner or just in the middle, stretch out, neck and legs extended, close their e yes and begin labored breathing.

The brooder is twice this size, we have it partitioned
off while they are little. I have 5 water dishes, 5 fed lids ( plastic mason jar lids for feed and water with marbles in the water) amd now scattered feed.

After reading this I just ran out and raised the lamp too cool it off. I was at the grocery store for 2 hrs and more dead ones!

I didnt incubate these, they are from meyer hatchery.

I really appreciate the help!

 

[TwoCrows]

Stretched out and labored breathing is over heating. I think they need to cool off. Keep the heat down in the mid to low 90's for a 2 hours or so and see if that doesn't stop them from dying. You can even turn the heat off for about 20 mins and then turn it back on at 95 degrees. Maybe your thermometer is not reading correctly. Get another one to check it against the one you are using.