:/Have never postd before, but must say for those of you doing quail if you don't use a mirror or your hand the chick must have an answer to the cheeps is calling for mother or bro's or sisters if it dosen't here a response and you don't talk to it . It will just go to sleep and not wake up is not common in chickens that I no of but with quail the closer to wild they are can be a problem is to protect the flock if only one lives the hen will give up in wild and the chick is lost.
I am not mother nature have raised many in pocket to the right size to go on there own or if I have a late guy the pocket works need paper towel and carry a small 10cc rig and add some honey. I take a stick match and dip in honey and put in the water it seems to help bring them out of the hatch mode if they have very spindelly legs quail sometimes can't stand for 2 days. Get them to a warm secure place or the others will drag them by there toes. I will not force water on them but I let the drop hang in front of them after they hit it the first time get ready they need a drink as often as you or ever 4 hours. Food is not necessary yet but I just toss in box on floor they need something to walk on soft paper towels are expensive but the can walk on it quickly it helps.
By the Book you don't need to water or feed them for 40 hours. I have found that that shot of h2o+honey as soon as they will take dose two things it first converts them to water drip bottles which is neet no mess (quail are worse than chickens they will drown in the water dish even with rocks in them they would have to work hard for a waterbottle to hurt them) and my rate of live or die right after hatching is 90+% before was 78 to 82 %.
If you ever have to watch one or more die it makes you feel better and even if the water and honey mean nothing your handling them and even if everyone says your nuts your talking to them and it helps I name them all even if they pass. I also bury them. As screwey as it sounds I loose one now and then but not often and it makes me feel better.
Why they will make a move on the drops comes from nature I have seen a hen and flock going to the leaves with dew on them and the chicks drink the drops off the leaves was where I got the Idea.
This is a personal opinion the people who are into birds are mostly the same (I have done much traveling and folks are folks every where) find a person with chickens in his back yard explain that shiping eggs is not a wonderful way and about 1/2 die. Might you buy some of his freshest eggs if the rooster is present and crowing I will bet money he will offer you some but just buy a dozen.
Three things I hold to the book: tempature 99.5, and I have a turner quail eggs althought they seem tuff they will brake or crack if your not very very very careful. The last is the most important humidity get a wet bulb and dry bulb thermoitor and learn how you will do a lot for the chicks stay close to humidity readings you will learn the bator and in my case 3/4oz in am and am good all day might go above 50% for a bit but will hold below 50% for rest of day.
I have decided to bring the ground quail back to South Texas Valley I raise and release 100's every chance I get I am sure I loose most but they will learn or I will go broke or die trying.
If your not from Texas well hope where you are is as nice for birds as the Rio Grande Valley.
I am sorry for the grammer and spelling
snake173
Don't lie
Don't cheet
Don't steal (except form the government)
Never Quit
All go home
I would just like to update on my happy story. Cheepers is now in the coop outside he seems to enjoy it. When he was inside he would run in circles in the brooder trying not to be picked up and now when I am sitting in the run with them he acctually perches on my lap. It is like he greets me. When I reach down to fill the food he comes over and just watches me. Fluffy is also doing fine also a great bird. I look forward to seeing them and the other girls everyday.
