URgent!! help!

[crash0330]

So I got my first chick today at 4 am, I have to go to work at 5 and wont be back till aroun 3:30, is it ok if I leave the little chick in there till I comeback from work or is it to long for him to stay inthere?

 

[TurkeyMountainChickens]

The chick should be fine. They usually have enough absorbed yolk to last for 2-3 days. Of course, if you move the chick to the brooder when you get back, you should offer food and water anyhow. They will often eat on the first day!

 

[secretquail]

Most people suggest leaving them in for 24 hours, so I wouldn't worry. Just have food and water waiting for em in the brooder. Congrats on the hatch!

 

[kingmt]

If you put some moist food (mash) in the bator & it finds it then it is good to go but 24 hours is to long for quail (so I'm told by others with more experience).

 

[kbeagle]

Quote:
That means you are opening the bator, i wouldn't do that. you would be fine. and please do not open the bator. they can survive on the air sack for while. until you come back.

 

[aprophet]

I have watched them hatch one evening at 8-9 pm left them in overnight ( to dry) until 7-8 am they were fine, by that time the hatch was over

 

[kingmt]

Quote:
That means you are opening the bator, i wouldn't do that. you would be fine. and please do not open the bator. they can survive on the air sack for while. until you come back.

Oh no open the bator!

Do you realize how crazy that sounds. I wouldn't leave it open very long but long enough to reach in isn't going to hurt a thing. Do you think a broody isn't going to stand up & take a peek to see what is going on. It takes a while for the temp of the egg to drop. Air temp will change very fast but the egg will take a few minutes to cool & if there is things like jars of water in there to radiate the heat then it is even less of a deal.

Do as you like, it is your clutch. The chick may not even find the food but I would hate to go 12 hours without food or water. I believe the sooner they eat & drink the more likely they are to live. I wouldn't throw it in a brooder you don't have time to watch for a few hours though.

Ether way I'm sure you are at work already & have already made the best decision you could on the knowledge you had at hand.

 

[Friend2Fowl]

Quote:
That means you are opening the bator, i wouldn't do that. you would be fine. and please do not open the bator. they can survive on the air sack for while. until you come back.

Most people that hatch quail are constantly opening the bator, quail chicks need to eat a lot sooner than other birds. If I didn't open the bator during a hatch, I'd have a lot of dead chicks. More than one of my hatches has taken up to 5 days from start to finish.