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

[BjsBestGirl]

I had been incubating my quail for 18 days when they finally pipped. I thought for sure none would. I bought 124 quail eggs at auction. I didnt expect all of them to hatch; which is good because only about half did. Lastnight was night 19 and the last few pipped eggs didnt seem to be finnishing along although i could hear them inside. We have been having problems with hatching prior to this. ex: last hatch, we had about 20 chicken eggs that would pip and them die. So on the very last day as a LAST RESORT we took off the outer shell very carefully and they finnished nicely; all did very well and are 2 months old now. So when this happened lastnight i did the same the they did very well too. The problem is, why does that happen in the first place. 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. Then, we got the chicks- all healthy - into our "Brooder" box (A very large storage tote with pine chips in the bottom and 2 heat lamps). They all did just fine and i even stayed up with them till 1am to make sure they were ok and watch the temp. This morning when I woke, 3 were dead 3 more were not doing so good - those died later too. I dont understand what im doing wrong! Please Help!

-Christine

P.S. The ones that dies were not the ones we helped. We put those in a special place to watch seprately.

 

[Msbear]

Did they have food? They need to eat right away after hatching. Regular crumbles are too big. I grinded mine to a dust and sprinkled it around on papertowels that they were on.. not pine shavings. They may have a hard time finding the food in the shavings. The food is obvious on the paper towel. Im so sorry.

As for hatching, I had to pop many of mine out too. I would try spraying them with a couple squirts from a mist sprayer to help.

 

[yotetrapper]

What kind of quail? What is your humidty levels in your incubators? That's usually the culprit. As for dying, if they're bobwhites, good luck is all I can say....

 

[bockbock2008]

As far as the piping with no hatching goes, sounds like a humidity problem. You say humidity is good but you don't say what its at.

 

[CoopCrazy]

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I havent heard this.. Is it exclusive to quail ? I have never fed mine until they were completly dry and out of the bator..

 

[CoopCrazy]

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Also have you tested your hygrometer???

 

[bockbock2008]

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Also have you tested your hygrometer???

Thanks coop, I need to do that too! It's funny how much I have learned and forget!

 

[Msbear]

Here's my first attempt at hatching quail... bobs

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=302516

I wound up having to syringe feed the for a couple days as they got so weak from not having food right away

 

[Quail_Cottage]

Did you see them drinking all OK? Mine are in a plastic 33L storage tub, one 85W bulb in a brooder lamp resting on the wire mesh on top, that read 98F under it, but they have cooler spots if they need it. Sun was shining in on them one day and they were all looking overheated.Maybe they are too hot/dehydrated? For the first few days I just used paper towels and then when the poop is too much switch to shavings. As someone else said you need fine crumbles. I can't think of anything else....the ones you are separating out are doing OK right? what is different for them vs. the main brooder box?.....Good luck with the rest.

 

[aprophet]

when they pip and do not make it out that sounds like they were shrink wrapped . when I first brought mine in I put a little suger in their (1 tsp to a 3 qts ) water . I had an aunt who did that after chickens had been shipped .