Quail Dying in brooder__Unknown issue_PLEASE HELP

[Jgutierrez84106]

Any Advice appreciated,
We recently incubated and hatched 18 of 24 Gamble quail eggs and we have been losing them on a daily basis for the past week or so. Started 1-2 days after moving to brooder. We have been steadily losing chicks since the move. 1 a day usually but a couple of days 2-4 !!! about 4 had splay leg but we corrected ( hopefully ) with bandages. We now have only 2 chicks left, so I am reaching out for advice.

Information about set up,
Using a Janoel 12 incubator. Set up days before and checked Temp/Humidity for calibration. Temp few degrees off but corrected for by few thermometers. Eggs arrived in good condition in foam padding. moved to incubator, 20+ days to hatch. chicks left in incubator for 48 hours before moving.

Brooder set up with pine shavings, heat lamp ( unsure of wattage, but temp confirmed with thermometers @ 95-100 degree F. under lamp) Brooder container sterilite storage box approx 3ft x 2ft. Heat placed on one end so chicks would have cool side if needed. Water and food placed in the middle. Feed I used is a gamebird starter ( MannaPro Gamebird/showbird starter grower, 24% protein crumble, bag says produced date of 4/20/20 so shouldnt be expired or old ) Feed was grinded up. I kept clean water in brooder ( Filtered tap water, not sure if that makes a difference ). some chicks got their beaks dipped in water on when putting in the brooder. They seemed to be eating and drinking just fine respectively. Brooder in finished basement, not drafty and should have plenty of ventilation.

We have been unable to identify what is going on and have become discouraged on attempting quail. We have raised chicken for many, many years and always do well. some issues , but never like this. Chicks seemed good and healthy, active and curious. Chicks did not show obvious signs of being too hot or cold ( clumping or avoidance of heat lamp ) but one by one, they get lathargic and " sleepy-ish" appear weak and then die. any thoughts ?

Any advice would be great.
Thank you

 

[nchls school]

If the two that are alive appear healthy I'd recommend changing food and water source. While the food sounds right... Try feeding the two hard boiled egg (boil 20 minutes) and dried meal worms minced and mixed with the boiled egg. If you have unmedicated chicken mash add some of that too. The mixture should be moist but on the dry side. Keep the mixture refrigerated and feed just small amounts at a time. My cortunix quail and serama bantam chicks do very well on this and I rarely lose a chick. Use bottled or rain water; no chance of chemicals or harmful minerals. Good luck.

 

[Jgutierrez84106]

If the two that are alive appear healthy I'd recommend changing food and water source. While the food sounds right... Try feeding the two hard boiled egg (boil 20 minutes) and dried meal worms minced and mixed with the boiled egg. If you have unmedicated chicken mash add some of that too. The mixture should be moist but on the dry side. Keep the mixture refrigerated and feed just small amounts at a time. My cortunix quail and serama bantam chicks do very well on this and I rarely lose a chick. Use bottled or rain water; no chance of chemicals or harmful minerals. Good luck.

Thank you ! I will give it a shot, as I have all of that on hand.