Quail chicks flailing before dying

[Bobwhites]

Help! My Bobwhite quail chicks are dying and I don't know the cause. They look fine and an hour later when I check on them there will be a dead one. At first it seemed like normal chick mortality but something else is killing them now. I don't know the poultry terms so I will try to describe the symptoms best I can. It starts when I find one standing still, I can pick him up with no resistance. I usually isolate that one so it doesn't get pecked to death. Not long after I first notice and separate one is when the strange behavior starts. The chick will extend its neck and open its beak much like the how they do if they have gapeworm. These chicks have never been outside or exposed to other poultry so I doubt it's that. Then they start flailing their head side to side but in such a way that it seems like they're stuck in a repeating loop. I tried to get video of it but couldn't get anything yet. Any ideas? I am learning as I go and so far have never had this problem before. They are drinking and have the correct temperature with cool spots to move to. I am feeding them birdseed basically as they will be released for repopulation and I wanted their diet to be similar to what they will find in the wild. My thought is that they are getting food stuck in their throats? I recently added oyster shells to their food. Any thoughts?

 

[kingmt]

They don't need oyster shell. I'd also just use the high protein feed to get them started as to give them the best chance then try adapting them to the other feed after they are started. I've seen what you described in bad hatches that are usually from shipped eggs. These however were in Coturnix.

Hope someone come along son with more exact advice.

 

[SliderShooter]

Wild quail chicks' diet consists of insects and not grain or seed as they are not yet capable of digesting grain. You need to feed a commercial turkey/game bird starter to get them started. This would be the first step to narrow down your problem with the chicks dying. I would try this and see if you have any improvement.

Keep in mind that it is very difficult to release birds raised in captivity into the wild and have them survive. The number one issue is human contact. The less human contact the better chance they have of survival in the wild. In addition, depending on your state, the state department of wildlife usually requires a permit before any bird can be released.

If you are trying to increase the wild bird population in your area the best advice I can offer is to improve the environment. Food plots, water availability, cover, and predator control are most important to maintaining a healthy wild bird population. It is on a very rare occasion that a bird raised in captivity survives in the wild.

 

[dc3085]

Its the feed. Seeds are not a fit a diet for chicks period and no quail can digest them without grit being fed. Game bird crumble is water soluble so they dont require any digestive aid it dissolves when they drink. They should be on 28-30% protein crumble.

 

[Bobwhites]

I do have a permit and manage about 10 acres for them. This is the 3rd year and so far has been relatively successful in that the ones I've released have survived at least a year. I did start them on the chick crumbles and also gave them baby crickets to try and keep their instincts sharp. They are now back on the crumbles. Is there anything that can be done for them once they show signs of a problem?

Also I did supplement my flock with some eggs I ordered online and these are the chicks that are having this problem. Don't know if that's relevant but thought I'd add it.