Newly Hatched Quail Not Eating Much

[ThaJuicyJuice]

Hello, I just had quail hatch starting yesterday. Should I be concerned if they do not seem to be eating or drinking much. They do a lot of sleeping and huddling around each other. The brooder is 95 degrees. They do peck around at the food, but not for very long and I have seem some drink a little. Should I put several water dishes around? Other food other than gamebird starter?

 

[Stellar]

How about grinding the gamebird starter to a cornmeal consistency. They usually are pigs. Huddling isn't a good thing. Make sure the lamp is closer to them. Should be around 97 in the brooder.

 

[aprophet]

I gently dip the beak of each chick into the water dish being the big dork that I am I peck the food with my finger until about half of the chicks are eating good they will teach the others you want the temp what Alex said at chick level they are short little buggers

good luck with your flock

 

[matefrio]

I've ground my game bird starter to almost powder. Seems to work for me.

 

[ThaJuicyJuice]

Thanks folks

 

[JJMR794]

By Quail Are We Talking Coturnix?

No Matter... Since Almost All Quail Are Lil Fuzzy Heat Seeking Missles With Feet Try This... Use That Behavior To Your Advantage, Place Your Feed Dish Directly Under The Heat Source... Make It The Warmest Spot In Your Brooder. Also A Nice Shiney Dime Or Nickel On Top Of Feed Makes A Wonderful Attractant For Small Curious Minds To Peck At

 

[Hooligan Farm]

Quote:
I never had a problem with mine eating but I'll have to remember that one.

 

[JJMR794]

AFTER WE WERE TAUGHT TO WORK HARD AS KIDS WE WERE THEN TAUGHT TO WORK SMART AS WELL

JUST USE THEIR INHERENT BEHAVIORS TO YOUR ADVANTAGE

 

[JJMR794]

FOR THE RECORD AND USE IT IF YOU WISH... I DONT BROOD WITH THERMOMETERS... WHY? WHEN YOU HAVE A BROODER FULL OF FUZZY LIL THERMOMETERS THAT NEVER NEED BATTERIES AND ARE ALWAYS 100% ACCURATE NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE IN THIS WORLD.... USE YOUR CHICKS AS A GUIDE. HECK THEY'RE ALREADY BOUGHT AND PAID FOR AND THE MOST ACCURATE. IF THEY ARE HUDDLING THEY ARE TOO COLD, IF THEY ARE ALL AS FAR AWAY FROM THE HEAT SOURCE AS POSSIBLE AND LANQUISHING LIKE A LOST FORIEGN LEGIONAIRE IN SOME FAR OFF DESERT THEY ARE TOO HOT, IF THEY'RE UP TEARIN AROUND PECKING AT ANYTHING THAT CATCHES THEIR ATTENTION OR EATING OR DRINKING OR PICKING ON THE VILLAGE IDIOT THEN THEY ARE JUST RIGHT

 

[Hooligan Farm]

Quote:
I must be actually learning cause this what I do. I got rid of the thermometer after my first hatching