Water ideas for baby quail

[AlderCreekFarms]

I have another week and a half or so before my little Cotournix babies hatch (if all goes as planned), and I've been reading people's posts on the chicken forums about watering options. I bought a small standard waterer with the quail tray on it for my brooder, but am curious about these nipple waters. Are baby quail strong enough to get water from a horizontal one, should I go with a vertical system or should I stick with the regular ol' waterer? I really don't want the mess if I can avoid it.

 

[RosieR]

I tried the horizontal nipples last time and they couldn’t use them till about 2 weeks old. I’m thinking vertical nipples would be better but haven’t tested them.

 

[cosmosue]

I used a water feeder with the little red cups and the yellow doodad I had to hang it really low it was a bit of a pain but I did teach them how to use it they were about 3 days old when I got the first batch. I since have moved that water feeder outside on one of my hutches for the adults even though it did work they are annoying to secure.

Now I just start first when they are newborn I give them bottle caps lol (so long as you don’t have a TON at the same time a few bottle caps work for day one if you keep filling them. Day two I have a small clear dish with marbles it attracts them as it’s clear glass and the marbles are pretty colors so first they peck at the outside then they figure it out almost instantly. Then they stand in it! Lol

Next I move onto removing marbles...

Then I switch to some larger bowls... first with marbles then without, they are metal bird bowls.

I work from home. This allows me to always constantly be here and yes I do have to fill the water usually 2xs a day and clean it at least once. Especially after week 2.

If you can’t be home then I would go with a different water feeder than what I got going. I just don’t like those flip upseide down things I dunno I never ever have luck with them they seem to just spill everywhere for me and make a big mess!!! The bowls are not the best thing either but there is less spillage for me personally.

So my advice is probably crap.

But honestly for day 0-8 or so a small bowl is prob fine. It is ok for us they don’t spill much until they are rocketing around and popcorning (this is what we call the jumping - popcorning) haha!

If you find a better solution for after week one or so post it pls... lol I’m ALL ears. I just hate how the water feeder spills, the hanging one is a pain to move but fills from the top... ugh we need a good solution!!!

 

[cosmosue]

Rosie I have vertical ones for a water feeder but all my feeders are currently in use I need to order another 2. I could try it since I have the nipple thing already I have the red cups on mine instead. Maybe I’ll try it after I place an order for a couple more water feeders I will need them soon anyway.

Also when I moved the new babies outside a week ago (they are 3-5 weeks now) they did not know how to use the red cup water feeder so I gave them a bowl. But they have now figured it out and have the beak strength to use it (the other one I first got did not require so much work that my first babies had and I was annoyed that my new ones seemed to require so much force when on the picture in the store it shows little quail chicks and other chicks and says FOR CHICKS!!!) but it’s working for them fine now.

Soooo I removed the bowl and I know they are able to all use it otherwise they would be... dead lol (I did make sure first) it’s nearly 100 out here most summer days (hence moving them out sooner) and their water feeder has been dropping to almost half every day so I know it’s used.

Ok I am gonna try that other nipple next time. Maybe that’s the answer...

 

[RosieR]

I used a water feeder with the little red cups and the yellow doodad I had to hang it really low it was a bit of a pain but I did teach them how to use it they were about 3 days old when I got the first batch. I since have moved that water feeder outside on one of my hutches for the adults even though it did work they are annoying to secure.

Now I just start first when they are newborn I give them bottle caps lol (so long as you don’t have a TON at the same time a few bottle caps work for day one if you keep filling them. Day two I have a small clear dish with marbles it attracts them as it’s clear glass and the marbles are pretty colors so first they peck at the outside then they figure it out almost instantly. Then they stand in it! Lol

Next I move onto removing marbles...

Then I switch to some larger bowls... first with marbles then without, they are metal bird bowls.

I work from home. This allows me to always constantly be here and yes I do have to fill the water usually 2xs a day and clean it at least once. Especially after week 2.

If you can’t be home then I would go with a different water feeder than what I got going. I just don’t like those flip upseide down things I dunno I never ever have luck with them they seem to just spill everywhere for me and make a big mess!!! The bowls are not the best thing either but there is less spillage for me personally.

So my advice is probably crap.

But honestly for day 0-8 or so a small bowl is prob fine. It is ok for us they don’t spill much until they are rocketing around and popcorning (this is what we call the jumping - popcorning) haha!

If you find a better solution for after week one or so post it pls... lol I’m ALL ears. I just hate how the water feeder spills, the hanging one is a pain to move but fills from the top... ugh we need a good solution!!!

I agree, we need a better solution. The little guys mess up the water far too fast lol

 

[cosmosue]

Well if any of us find something be sure to let us know! Cause right now I have quite a few and while I don’t mind filling it a lot it IS getting to be a bit messy when you have a lot of babies and they grow quick. At first it’s much more easy to manage but then... it starts to get to that point where I worry they will run dry. So far it’s fine but since they are popcorning and rocketing all over that causes a bigger loss of water than anything

...but it’s so cute...

 

[RosieR]

Rosie I have vertical ones for a water feeder but all my feeders are currently in use I need to order another 2. I could try it since I have the nipple thing already I have the red cups on mine instead. Maybe I’ll try it after I place an order for a couple more water feeders I will need them soon anyway.

Also when I moved the new babies outside a week ago (they are 3-5 weeks now) they did not know how to use the red cup water feeder so I gave them a bowl. But they have now figured it out and have the beak strength to use it (the other one I first got did not require so much work that my first babies had and I was annoyed that my new ones seemed to require so much force when on the picture in the store it shows little quail chicks and other chicks and says FOR CHICKS!!!) but it’s working for them fine now.

Soooo I removed the bowl and I know they are able to all use it otherwise they would be... dead lol (I did make sure first) it’s nearly 100 out here most summer days (hence moving them out sooner) and their water feeder has been dropping to almost half every day so I know it’s used.

Ok I am gonna try that other nipple next time. Maybe that’s the answer...

Yes please let me know how the vertical nipples go
I’ll order some if your test works

 

[cosmosue]

Yeah I’ll see how it goes I’ll try it out on the California valley dudes July 13 ... I’m so bloody impatient with them come on already... they take longer than the Coturnix lol !!! Bah. I’m gonna candle them and whisper words of encouragement- my husband thinks I’m losing my mind but truth is I lost that years ago. But he also says it’s funny and cute and he loves those babies just as much as I do! I catch him sitting at the brooder ALL THE TIME!

 

[RosieR]

Yeah I’ll see how it goes I’ll try it out on the California valley dudes July 13 ... I’m so bloody impatient with them come on already... they take longer than the Coturnix lol !!! Bah. I’m gonna candle them and whisper words of encouragement- my husband thinks I’m losing my mind but truth is I lost that years ago. But he also says it’s funny and cute and he loves those babies just as much as I do! I catch him sitting at the brooder ALL THE TIME!

Aww I can’t wait for fuzzy babies!

 

[cosmosue]

I’m waiting on yours!!! Lol!!