New to Quail keeping.Need help!!

[hyperbunny]

Hi!! first time I had 2 quails both died unfortunately because I was stupid and went to bathe my smelly 10 day old chicks (in a shallow pan with warm water.Blowdried them on low but warm setting on the hair drier)One survived and was strong after but the other died.Later on this one died too after I played with it.
Please don't bash at me I have learned form my mistakes.
This time round i bought 3 home.I gave a heater which I didn't to my first chicks,they CRIED day and night...i didn't know I needed to give them heat...anyways i have then a heater,hideout,well ventilated cage,food and water.I have questions

1.I live in Singapore and they dont sell those big big packs of play sand that they do in western countries.I use newspaper,Put them in water,scrunch them up then let dry.What better bedding should i use? A kg of sand here is like $10+

2.Isit safe to play with my chicks everyday? My parents kept arguing that my previous chicks died of stress,but I doubt it.I read online that if we play with them frequently,the tamer they will be.I do not throw them or drop them,Just pat them and carry them,call them.

3.Can you recommend any homemade recipe to feed my quails when they grow up for nutritious eggs? Would it be safe to eat their eggs? I'm super paranoid of parasites.

4.I taught my previous chick to come when called within a day.Took about half an hour.My current chicks are not cooperating :/ I don't want to be associated with food.I want them to come to me for cuddles not for food (if possible)

 

[Lauren Kim]

Try A Chick Called Albert on youtube. He raises many quails, and he has many videos on quails.

 

[hyperbunny]

Try A Chick Called Albert on youtube. He raises many quails, and he has many videos on quails.

I've seen that but he doesn't have alot of videos regarding my questions

 

[Lauren Kim]

Ok, then I can answer your questions.

1. Your bedding right now is totally fine. You don't need sand. In fact, I used pine sheddings for my chicks when they were little. You can collect sand at a beach or find pine shavings on amazon or any online store.

2. You can play with quails every day, but I somewhat agree with your parents. Playing with them too much, even holding them gives them some stress. When they are little, they are naive and timid and they do not know what we are.

3. I recommend putting poultry grit in their food when they are fully grown. They will absolutely not lay eggs without grit! Grit helps them digest foods better, and gives them strength to push out the egg. You should feed them whole corn(not cracked), some bread, and oats. Those are healthy foods to feed your quail.

4. When animals sense food, it is natural for them to be attracted to it. So they mostly won't come to you for cuddling but for food. I give my chickens a little noise so that they come here but they only start begging for food!

I hope this helped

 

[onetwothreefouriamadoor]

where do you get your quail? if you hatch them where do you get the eggs