Random deaths!

[Whitehouse Quail]

Okay, so the Coturnix I hatched hatched fine, but now there is a problem in the brooder:

There are random deaths occuring! They look lethargic, then kind of tip over, like they no longer have balance, then the next day they are dead. I'm going to add some electrtlyte to the water, but any ideas on what it is?

 

[JJMR794]

Before They Die Do They Arch Their Heads Up Over Their Backs?

What Does The Poo Look Like?

Any Have Pasty Butt? Or Diarrhea?

What Are You Feeding Them?

How Are You Brooding Them?

Oh Yeah, How Old?

 

[aprophet]

Quote:
what is the arched neck about I lost one like that my last hatch

 

[Whitehouse Quail]

Quote:
Thanks for your help!

 

[JJMR794]

Gamebird Chick Starter 20% (Non medicated)

ARE YOU SURE ABOUT THAT? NEVER KNOWN OF ANY BRAND OF CAMEBIRD STARTER LESS THAN 28% PROTIEN...

ELECTROLYTE IS A GOOD IDEA

IF THE POO WAS GREEN AND RUNNY I WOULD THING ENTERITIS WHICH THEY CAN BE QUITE SUSCEPTIBLE TOO( INFECTIOUS CONTAGEN)
THE HEAD ARCHING IS KINDA CLASSIC FOR ENCEPHALITIS, ITS ACTUALLY CALLED POSTURING, AND IS INDICATIVE OF CRANIAL MALFUNCTION OF SOME SORT--- WHEN SEEN IN THIS SITUATION AND EXHIBITED BY MORE THAN 1 CHICK IT WOULD BE INDICATIVE OF ENCEPHALITIS INFECTION, WHICH THEY CAN BE PRONE TO AS WELL(BUT IT IS CONTAGEOUS SO IT WOULD AFFECT THE WHOLE LOT, NOT JUST 1..)( FYI- THIS IS USUALLY PASSED ENUTERO FROM HEN TO EGG, THEN THE INFECTED EGG HATCHES AND SHARES THE INFECTION WITH EVERYONE ELSE IN THE BROODER-- IT CARRIES A VERY HIGH MORTALITY RATE)
6 DAYS OLD IT IS AN OUTSIDE POSSIBILITY THAT YOUR FINDING THE 1'S WHO HAVENT LEARNED TO EAT AND ARE NOW FINALLY SUCCUMBING TO STARVATION? WERE THESE HEALTH NORMAL CHICKS COMPARED TO THE REST? OR WERE THEY WEAKER SMALLER ( RUNTS)CHICKS? MANY TIMES THEY HAVE INTERNAL DEFECTS AND LIVE FOR A WHILE BUT THE DEFECT FINALLY WINS IN THE END..

WHAT KIND OF WOODEN BOX? SOME PINE AND ALL CEDAR CAN GIVE OFF FUMES THAT ARE TOXIC TO QUAIL CHICKS, ESPECIALLY IF IN AN ENCLOSED HEATED SPACE WHERE THE FUMES WOULD BE GIVEN OFF MORE READILY AND ACCUMULATE INTO HEAVIER TOXIC ENVIRONMENT.

WHITECONFECTIONS SORRY TO SAY BUT ITS STILL KINDA HARD TO PUT ANY EASY CAUSE ON YOUR LOSSES. DEFECTS AND STARVATION CERTAINLY CAN BE THE CAUSE AT THIS AGE, AS CAN THE TOXIC FUMES SO LOOK AT THAT BOX... NO PASTY BUTT SO IT ISNT A BACKUP PROBLEM, STARVATION CAN BE MAGNIFIED BY THE LOW PROTIEN FEED. IF IT IS IN FACT 20% PROTIEN THEN SOMEONE HAS GIVEN YOU REGULAR CHICK STARTER AND NOT GAMEBIRD STARTER/ OR GAMEBIRD MAINTENANCE AND NOT STARTER... IT NEVER HURTS TO COVER YOUR BASES- YOU CAN START THEM ON ANTIBIOTICS FOR ANY CONTAGEN, MOVE THEM OUT OF YOUR WOODEN BOX BROODER, FEED THEM SOMETHING DIFFERENT, I LIKE THE ELECTROLYTE SOLUTION--- THAT NEVER HURTS, AND THE VITAMIN ELECTROLYTE SOLUTION IS EVEN BETTER! ARE YOU MONITORING BROODER TEMP THROUGHOUT THE DAY AND EVENING? PERHAPS TOO COLD OR OVERHEATING? I KNOW IF TRAMPLED(HUDDLED ON) IF YOU FIND 1 BEFORE ITS DEAD THEY ARE TOTALLY LISTLESS AND LIMP?? SAME WITH HEAT EXHAUSTION...

I DUNNO JUST TRYIN TO COVER WHAT I CAN HERE... ANY OTHER INFO WE CAN ADD TO THE EQUATION? MAYBE I CAN PINPOINT SOMETHING FOR YOU...

 

[Whitehouse Quail]

The brooder that I am using has worked for the past quail (A batch of 40 quail, another 2, another 20, and a batch of 15 chickens) and never had a problem. It could be because I'm not using medicated food... that's what I've been using, but thought that this would be healthier. (The bag says for 'Growing quail', so sorry about Gamebird starter! i'll have to get some new stuff ASAP) Also, the electrolyte antibioic thing seems to be working, the only death today is one squished in the door.

I'll let you know what happened! My only thoughts were that these were from a different breeder, and a different variety of Japanese quail, so, yeah.

Thanks!

 

[Whitehouse Quail]

Actually, the poop is looking a little runny. What can I do to fix this? I just noticed when I cleaned the cage.