Surprise Baby Quail

[Lizzy733]

We just had little california quail chick pop into the house. Little guy is completely solo - no sign of mum or siblings.

Have settled em into the brooder, though it's soooo tiny! I've had to make some accomodations as the bars are way too spaced to hold em. Fingers crossed he'll flourish. Not very interested in food or water, but looks quite young... Any guesses on age? I wouldnt think he's much older than a few days? Not particularly lethargic, so hopefully he'll fare ok.

Nobody nearby has quail for me to just go pick up a few more, though there are plenty of wild ones in the area.

Have settled him in on a thermostat, shown em the water and sprinkled a bit of chick crumble down (though I also have meat bird crumble if this would be a better starter.)

Fingers crossed! My son has been wanting quail for a while now and while this is no coturnix, its a start.

Has anybody ever cross habitated? I could definitely look to get a few coturnix in a week or two if this one looks like its going to survive.

 

[Ravenlover]

@007Sean u had Cali quail before right ?

 

[Nabiki]

That looks to be one or two days old. Chicken chick feed isn't going to give it enough protein. Game bird starter or turkey starter are good options.

I don't know if you need a permit in NZ, but you may want to check. You might want to check with your local wildlife rescue as well.

 

[007Sean]

@007Sean u had Cali quail before right ?

Yep, still do!

 

[nchls school]

Newly hatched; certainly no more than 2 days old. Minced hard boiled egg and crushed dry meal worms are both good to add to the mash. You might want to crush the mash further so it's smaller pieces.

 

[007Sean]

Being single and no other chicks for companionship, it might not survive. I'd try to get some electrolytes in it...with a eyedropper or small syringe minus the needle...dropwise on the side of the beak, regularly.
If you can find gamebird or turkey feed of at least 24% protein, it would be best. It needs to be pulverized for the first week or so...sprinkle it all over the floor of the brooder, so where ever it pecks it will find the food. Also pecking at it with your finger will help it to find and realize that it's food. Dipping it's beak into a drown proof waterer will help it to find the waterer.
Temperature of the brooder should be between 95 to 90°F at the bottom of the brooder for the 1st week at the warm end of the brooder.The temp should be lowered by 5°F/week until ambient temps are 70°F or fully feathered.
HTH
Best of luck!

 

[nchls school]

A companion does not have to be of the same specie; just a small chick of the same age; bantam or ???

 

[Lizzy733]

Thanks guys,

20% is about the best you can get in nz... At least where I am. I do have a few turkey poults and they're currently on meatbird , which at least has the additional vitamins. I do have dried mealworms as well.

There's no regulation against keeping these guys and we are rural. Just a shame the fam was nowhere to be seen when this little one popped into our kitchen.

I have a permanent brooder space set up that was empty - just bars nowhere near close enough to keep the little one in. I have sprinkled some feed about and tried tutting, but it hasnt shown any interest yet. Its also been shown the waterer - a bell-syle.

Has made it through the night, quite active. Needed cuddles to settle down yesterday evening

Poor little guy. There's a coturnix breeder about a 2 hour drive away that has hatchlings due the 3rd, if this one can hold out.

We actually have a walk-in aviary too. My son had been wanting quail eventually anyway. Wont take much for it to be ready for a small flock.

 

[Lizzy733]

That looks to be one or two days old. Chicken chick feed isn't going to give it enough protein. Game bird starter or turkey starter are good options.

I don't know if you need a permit in NZ, but you may want to check. You might want to check with your local wildlife rescue as well.

Got it covered on the rescue side of things

I spent the last year as a volunteer at the auckland bird rescue before we moved up here. Haven't reached out to any of the local centers yet, but I picked up a lot of medical knowledge while I was there and have been through baby bird season.

Still have a means of getting ahold of the avian vets if needed, but I doubt this little one will need that. - it's just not very keen on food at the moment, but still young - bright, alert and responsive, so I'm not too concerned yet.

 

[AntiqueB]

I had an only chick, and while she wasn't a quail, I did find that she liked to snuggle under my shirt for the first week or so. It provides a warm, breathing body, at least until you can get real friends for yours!