Quail help needed so.calif.

[VonChaos]

I have had quail for just about 1yr. I bought 3 females and 1 male from a feed store. I have been trying to hatch with a vivohome incubator with little success. I incubate about 15 eggs at a time and get 1-4 to hatch which died about 3days later in the brooder. I finally got 11 to hatch and only one died. Out of this batch all look healthy but a male with white feathers now can’t stand. He falls to one side. Legs and wings look fine it looks neurological. I had a batch of eggs after this success and 3 where acting like this 2 healthy but they all died in brooder within 5-6 days. I could use some advise on what this could be or what I am doing wrong. Are the original quail too inbred? I have no info on the history of them. I just ordered a little giant to incubate with incase the issue is with the incubator.

 

[Nabiki]

Hatching issues: Do you have calibrated thermometers and hygrometer inside, or are you trusting your incubator's readings? Hint: Never, never, ever trust the incubator's readings. What was the temp and humidity at during incubation?

Chick issues:
What is your setup like? Does your brooder have a warm end and a cool end? What is the temperature at the warm end? What are you feeding them?

 

[VonChaos]

Hatching issues: Do you have calibrated thermometers and hygrometer inside, or are you trusting your incubator's readings? Hint: Never, never, ever trust the incubator's readings. What was the temp and humidity at during incubation?

Chick issues:
What is your setup like? Does your brooder have a warm end and a cool end? What is the temperature at the warm end? What are you feeding them?

I incubate at 99.5-99.8. The brooder is 90-86. I have cardboard shelters that they can hide in. I feed wild game food ground up.

 

[VonChaos]

I incubate at 99.5-99.8. The brooder is 90-86. I have cardboard shelters that they can hide in. I feed wild game food ground up.

I’m in California so it’s pretty dry my humidity is about 60-75% I can’t seem to get it any higher.

 

[007Sean]

Adding to @Nabiki , questions, what type of bedding are you using in their brooder. Sounds to me like they may be contracting Aspergillosis? or commonly called 'brooder pneumonia'.

 

[VonChaos]

I was using wood shavings but switch to paper towels for the first couple weeks and then to wood shavings.

Any idea for the quail that is about 10weeks and why it cant stand. It just started this morning and looks as if it is going to die. All the rest look healthy and jumping around.

 

[007Sean]

I was using wood shavings but switch to paper towels for the first couple weeks and then to wood shavings.

Any idea for the quail that is about 10weeks and why it cant stand. It just started this morning and looks as if it is going to die. All the rest look healthy and jumping around.

Is there a chance it may have 'boinked' it's head on the brooder top or something else?

 

[VonChaos]

My cages are 16” tall. I suspect it could have It’s head looks fine no feathers disrupted. I got quails for eggs, meat and to teach my kids.... but I’ve never been more stressed about getting this right.

 

[Nabiki]

Your brooder is cold for new hatched chicks. I usually start mine in the high 90s, close to incubator temperatures. Chicks can't regulate their body temperature, so if they're getting down to 86 in the warm end, that could be enough for them to die.

Can you provide a bit more information on the game bird food that you're giving them? I've seen some "quail food" with as low as 12% protein. Chicks should be getting something around 28% protein.

The adults should be getting a feed with around 20% protein.

 

[VonChaos]

I feed them with ace hi feeds game bird turkey developer (not less then 28% crude protein) per website