First time quail hatching, and the past 4 days have been a very brutal crash course in quail chicks and all the things the basic tutorials missed.
I could use some guidance, reassurance and a reminder these feathered terrors are worth it.
On to the issue....
TW: sick chick/ quail butt/poop
To preference this all;
So far I have lost 2 of my original 7. Both required hatch assistance so the odds didn't hold in their favor. Lessons learned.
The issue is #5 now. First off it is smaller then the other 4. It came in to the world dragging its shell, I did cut it once I moved it to the brooder. I did checked it was dry and no veins.( I worry now that pulling in the incubator may have opened an injury. )
Yesterday I thought it had pasty butt, so did a general butt wash. However in a lack of quail bum anatomy knowledge may have pulled at its navel, thinking it was stuck on poop. I did apply lanolin and coconut oil to the area once I was done.
(Google and I had a long lesson on quail butts and more ways quail can meet their demise.)
Today I followed up with better knowledge on what a quail butt looks like and found 5's belly being crusty and still some pasty butt. I also notice a foul yellow discharge as I gently washed the whole belly with a q-tip. Applied Bacitracin ointment ( I am aware I can't use any with pain medicine). It also got moved to the hospital brooder( aka a smaller clear box in the main brooder box it has a shop towel floor food water and a paper towel imposter for company ) until I confirm what is going on.
It has also been refusing to lay down at all, even with being held. Seems to remember to eat and drink. It did poop when I cleaned it. It has been picking at his butt, I chalked it up to the poop and weird oils I had applied. The energy level was low when it was in the main brooder.
So TL;Dr , is this mushy chick( infected yolk) And should I hold out for recovery or not?
( Pictures in the morning small baby hit its handling limit.)
I could use some guidance, reassurance and a reminder these feathered terrors are worth it.
On to the issue....
TW: sick chick/ quail butt/poop
To preference this all;
So far I have lost 2 of my original 7. Both required hatch assistance so the odds didn't hold in their favor. Lessons learned.
The issue is #5 now. First off it is smaller then the other 4. It came in to the world dragging its shell, I did cut it once I moved it to the brooder. I did checked it was dry and no veins.( I worry now that pulling in the incubator may have opened an injury. )
Yesterday I thought it had pasty butt, so did a general butt wash. However in a lack of quail bum anatomy knowledge may have pulled at its navel, thinking it was stuck on poop. I did apply lanolin and coconut oil to the area once I was done.
(Google and I had a long lesson on quail butts and more ways quail can meet their demise.)
Today I followed up with better knowledge on what a quail butt looks like and found 5's belly being crusty and still some pasty butt. I also notice a foul yellow discharge as I gently washed the whole belly with a q-tip. Applied Bacitracin ointment ( I am aware I can't use any with pain medicine). It also got moved to the hospital brooder( aka a smaller clear box in the main brooder box it has a shop towel floor food water and a paper towel imposter for company ) until I confirm what is going on.
It has also been refusing to lay down at all, even with being held. Seems to remember to eat and drink. It did poop when I cleaned it. It has been picking at his butt, I chalked it up to the poop and weird oils I had applied. The energy level was low when it was in the main brooder.
So TL;Dr , is this mushy chick( infected yolk) And should I hold out for recovery or not?
( Pictures in the morning small baby hit its handling limit.)
