One baby quail picking on the newest hatched!

[pacosmom]

One baby hatched last night, the second hatched an hour or two ago, and the first one seems to be picking on the new one, is this normal? I have water and a boiled egg in the incubator, I put their beaks in both so they would know it was there.

 

[James the Bald]

One baby hatched last night, the second hatched an hour or two ago, and the first one seems to be picking on the new one, is this normal? I have water and a boiled egg in the incubator, I put their beaks in both so they would know it was there.

You shouldn't put any food in the incubator. Please read this link and this one as well. That water is going to turn 99.5 degrees real quick.

 

[SeptemberQuail]

x2

Baby quail are able to last without food once hatched for up to one to two days at the maximum because they have enough energy from the yolk they've absorbed. (I'm pretty sure that's how it works. I kept my chicks inside the incubator for a day before moving them.) So there is no need to be putting food into the incubator this early, let alone no food should be put into the incubator.
You shouldn't open the incubator unless you're moving the chicks into a brooder, or all the eggs have hatched or have passed their due date, especially during lock-down where the chicks need as much humidity as possible, without drowning them.

You should wait until they're fully dry, or at least 24 hours after they hatch to move them into the brooder - which then you can provide them with food, water and warmth.

As said above, the water will turn too hot for the chicks to drink.

 

[pacosmom]

Thank you once again for your wonderful advice. I cant believe I didnt think about the water getting hot. I have seven babies now and several more to come, so I'm not so paranoid as I was. I have learned so much invaluable information here that will make raising these quail so much more fun for me and for them. I'm sure I'll be back.