Why do my Quail babies keep dying? UPDATED WITH PICS!

[Plain_View_Farm]

Christine,
You said you had 2 heat lamps on your Brooder Box.
Have you monitored the temperature directly underneath them about the height of the chicks back?
Also with 2 lights there wouldn't be much space for them to get away from the heat if they were too hot.
The first week they should be kept in a container maintained at 95 degrees. Lowering the temperature
5 degrees a week until it reaches room temperature.

David

 

[BjsBestGirl]

The humidity has been around 70's-80's or so. Three days before they piped and I took the plugs out, the hunidity went down to the 60's or so. Should I only take out 1 plug? I have been very strict on the temp. monitoring it very well. I have a trusty digital hydrometer/thermometer. we keep three thermometers in there at all times-one at each end and one in the middle. The box is three foot long and 18" wide. There is plenty of room if they get too hot to escape the heat-one side the themometer says 90* and the other side is an even 95*-the middle is 93. I did feed them right away! Everytime I need help with stuff I look it up on here. One day I read to grind your crumbles. So before they fully hatched, I put a bunch of crumbles in an electric chopper and made them very fine; almost like a powder. I did water them right away too. I put a tupperware lid upside down in there and only put 1oz at a time, and monitor well, so they dont drown or dehidrate. I have spent 75% of the time with them since they hatched. Yes they are eating and drinking well. I dont know exactly what kind they are but theyre definately NOT button. Probably mixed up. Some are yellow. Some are white with a brown spot on the dack of their head. Some are almost red - like golden sebright chicks. Some look like leopards. Some look like Cheetas. Some are yellow with brown and black stripes. Three more died today, any more ideas? PLEASE HELP!

P.S. I know they will die from cedar chips, but will pine affect them too?

 

[Penturner]

Are they getting enough oxygen?

 

[Tony K T]

There's your answer.The air is to stale.You need to have your bator in an area where there is good airflow.In the middle of the room will be good.Your humidity sounds right 70-80%.Are you using a styrofoam bator?The problem with styrofoam bators is they are pourise(spelling),unless you have a fan the temp will fluckuate with the room temp.
In N.H.,Tony.
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[Tony K T]

I had similar problems with the quial chicks dieing.I asked the breeder if he had problems with his and he did.He told me to give them a dose of sulmet at least once a week.The problem soon disappeared.
In N.H.,Tony.
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[Plain_View_Farm]

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I never use Pine Shavings with New Born chicks. I use puppy piddle pads on the bottom of the brooder with rubber shelf liner on top of that so they get good traction. If they don't have good traction they can develop Spraddle leg which is quite painful to the chick and usually unless it is treated they will die of starvation or dehydration as they cannot walk to their food and water source.
The multicolored chicks you are describing sound very much like a mixed assortment of Button Quail. The All Yellow ones will likely be White or Silver. The ones with the dark stripe are possibly cinnamon.

Best of luck to you,
David

 

[BjsBestGirl]

We buckled down and "powerpointed" everything we're doing for them. What the problem could be

, and what it definately isnt. I went step by step through the list of do's and dont's. They are NOT drowning. They ARE eating. They are NOT slipping. They ARE warm enough. They are NOT too hot. So I analized those points and got this...... I Checked their food. Even though it was grinded, I was given the wrong bag at the store and got "Growth and Plumage" feed

. Though it has all the right vitamin supplamentation, I swiched it to a different one. I swiched it to the one I use for my ducklings, since it says on the bag its ok for quail. And I also took out the bedding and put in paper towels- as one of you suggested. I asked my sister-in-law (who has bad allergies) what I should do. When she got to my house she said the pine chips are just as bad as cedar for having oil-which cause respratory problems; especially if they are eating off of the chips.

I dont know what else it could be so ill give it a few days and let you know how it went. Thanks to all who helped

unfortunately another two died since i last logged in

. So maybe next time im on, ill have good news.

P.S. What do you think the red ones are? I dont think any are button because they too big to be. They're about the size of my thumb. I read Button quail are half that size.

 

[JJMR794]

I know the temp is good at 99.5. and the humidity is very good too. We have 3 incubators and it happens in both the ones used. DEFINE GOOD???



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EXACTLY! WHICH IS A HUMIDITY PROBLEM...

ALSO WERE THEY POSITIONED UPRIGHT OR LYING ON THEIR SIDE?

 

[UmbraVulpis]

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You want this reversed with the lower humidity while incubating and sky high just before they start pipping.

 

[JJMR794]

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You want this reversed with the lower humidity while incubating and sky high just before they start pipping.

exactly!

Also the colors you describe all sound like coturnix (jap) quail. And then there's the whole "bought at an auction" thing--- You may have very well bought old or improperly handled eggs. Did you use an autoturner?