Water ideas for baby quail

[007Sean]

The waterers I use, I got on eBay. 3 for $9.95/ free shipping. They don't spill, they don't get feed or shavings in them, down side is they only hold about 5oz. but other than that, they work great. Here's some pics:

 

[cosmosue]

How often do you find yourself filling them? Just wondering. Have you used them on just these guys or bit older ones? They look nice. Wonder if they got bigger ones hrm...

 

[cosmosue]

The food is piling in the pattern of the paper towels making pretty little food rings LOL funny... lol... doesn’t take much to amuse me apparently ha!!!

 

[Erkenstein]

I'd stick with the quail waterer you already have. When I set up my brooder, I cut a small piece of 1/4 inch plywood to go under the waterer to keep it from rocking or tipping over. The side with the hole where the water comes out of the jar should be on the high side if there is any slant at all.

The waterer won't spill unless you let it get really low and they knock it over while they are scrambling around. There isn't any mess at all and it is difficult for them to poop in the quail waterer so the water stays pretty clean.

When I have a big batch of quail (30-40 chicks), I fill the waterer in the morning and again in the evening.

Nipple waterers will leak even if they learn to use them so I don't recommend them for a brooder.

 

[cosmosue]

I was afraid of leakage with the vertical nipples but the cups did not leak, the red cups with the yellow flip inside that needs to be pushed down for water to come out.

Unfortunately some come that are harder to operate than others, so they are more geared for adults, the first one I got worked for chicks the next two it would have been too hard for them, until later at around 4-6 weeks, which they are using the now.

The younger ones still have bowls. I have two brooders going at the moment as a few chicks were runty, and I separated.

 

[AlderCreekFarms]

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!!!

Thank you! That is very helpful and your advice is not *crap* lol! I like the bottle cap idea for days I dont work, less water to tump over and mess up the bedding. I got a cage from wynola ranch and it came with the cup dealy-do's and a hose attached:
https://wynolaranch.com/quail-cage/30-heavy-duty-community-quail-cage-full-section-30-heavy-duty
(I mentioned in another post that I am building a quail pen myself, and I am. The wynola one is for indoors, and as a back up plan/expansion plan)

 

[AlderCreekFarms]

I'd stick with the quail waterer you already have. When I set up my brooder, I cut a small piece of 1/4 inch plywood to go under the waterer to keep it from rocking or tipping over. The side with the hole where the water comes out of the jar should be on the high side if there is any slant at all.

The waterer won't spill unless you let it get really low and they knock it over while they are scrambling around. There isn't any mess at all and it is difficult for them to poop in the quail waterer so the water stays pretty clean.

When I have a big batch of quail (30-40 chicks), I fill the waterer in the morning and again in the evening.

Nipple waterers will leak even if they learn to use them so I don't recommend them for a brooder.

Thank you, I think I might at least start out that way.

 

[AlderCreekFarms]

I was afraid of leakage with the vertical nipples but the cups did not leak, the red cups with the yellow flip inside that needs to be pushed down for water to come out.

Unfortunately some come that are harder to operate than others, so they are more geared for adults, the first one I got worked for chicks the next two it would have been too hard for them, until later at around 4-6 weeks, which they are using the now.

The younger ones still have bowls. I have two brooders going at the moment as a few chicks were runty, and I separated.

Ok, that's good info too, thank you. This is why I posted the question, all the little details I'm not thinking about yet. Maybe not for the brooder then, just the bigger ones, maybe. Maybe I'll do the cups (since they came w the cage) in that set-up, and do something different outside

 

[AlderCreekFarms]

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...

Popcorning... I love it, I cant wait!

 

[AlderCreekFarms]

The waterers I use, I got on eBay. 3 for $9.95/ free shipping. They don't spill, they don't get feed or shavings in them, down side is they only hold about 5oz. but other than that, they work great. Here's some pics:View attachment 1453668 View attachment 1453669 View attachment 1453674

Yes, the ones I have right now are that size but with the red bowl-type tray, like the big chicken waterers but tiny. I like that little cup