sick baby quails - pls help asap

[verxnicx]

ok I'm just gonna get into it, last night I bought two baby quails. I'm not sure of the species or age but they're basically the size of a cotton ball. since we just bought them last night, we weren't able to make them a proper cage.

we had them in the cage we bought them in with food and water but no official heat lamp. we used a desktop lamp but that obviously did not work. throughout the night, I would see them shaking, so I would take them out every now and then and cradle them in my hand to keep warmth and they would eventually fall asleep. Before I went to bed, I put them in a box with a towel underneath to keep them warm (of course with food and water). But this morning when I woke up I noticed the female was acting abnormal. She doesn't want to stand or walk. she's been laying down asleep and when she does get onto her feet, she wobbles and flips over and she'll get back on her feet then flip over to the other side. when I handle her she flips over everywhere until she gets comfortable and throw her head back. I'm not sure what's wrong with her but she is definitely not ok. she was fine last night. I've tried offering her food and water thinking that she might've not gotten enough last night but she doesn't accept it. I've tried squirting a small amount of water in her mouth thinking that she might be dehydrated but she'll just move her head over and fall back asleep.

I am handling her right now while she's laying down. ever now and then she'll stretch or move of a different spot but her hasn't made a peep in a while. She'll also open and close her beak every now and then. if she is dying just tell me now so I can separate her from her brother. please someone give me an answer as soon as possible. I'd be fondly appreciated

 

[XxMingirlxX]

Hi, welcome to BYC, if they are cold they lose energy quickly and thus lie down and act tired. The best thing you can do is find a heat lamp quickly they are weak and will die quickly without proper warmth, a computer lamp is nowhere close to the warmth of an infra red heat lamp.

You will probably get more replies if you post this thread in the emergency forum here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/10/emergencies-diseases-injuries-and-cures

I hope they get better soon

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

Hi

From how you have described your quail it sounds like they are very young and have hatched very recently. You really need to get a good heat source sorted for them they can chill very easily and especially just after hatch. I can't say your quail will make it, sometimes they are just not destined to make it after hatch it's the most critical time for them.
Drop by the quail forum for all the experts though who could offer you more advice here is the link https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/48/quail

Good luck and I do hope the chick makes it

 

[GrandmaBird]

From the size I would think you have button quail. They should be under heat for up to 7 weeks. at first they need to be at 90-95F (32.2-35C lowering the temp by 5 degrees every week until they are at room temp of 70-76 at age 6-7 weeks. You will need to have the food crushed fairly fine for buttons too and the water must be clean and fresh. It sounds like they need heat, more food and water. Good luck. DO not use a red light bulb for buttons. and be sure there is a cool place in the brooder for the water to sit, it also should have small rocks or such in the water so they chicks can not fall into it and get wet. They do die quickly if they get a chill. I hope yours make it.

 

[quailcassie]

another important thing to remember is that a quail learns to eat and drink from its mother. make sure your quail chicks are doing both of these things. if they aren't, you can teach them by poking their food and water to mimic a pecking action. also, the quail will enjoy their water more if you put some marbles in it because the glass is shiny so it will draw their attention(at least until they get a couple weeks old and understand.) good luck.

 

[React11]

first of all you have to give them heat.. you can give them warm water but not so hot. if they don't eat this is very harmful for them.. keep them feeding.. whatever it is like boiled egg, insect, greens.