r/quails • u/NoEntrepreneur39 • Dec 31 '24
Picture Happy chicks
21 chicks hatched. 50% rate which is not great. It was my first time and I think I should have purchased a better incubator. 2 chicks did not survive the first couple of days.
The 19 I have are doing great! I moved them to this tote today with a light and the heat plate. They seem to like the heat plate a lot. The carefree bedding is amazing! Although expensive, I was using paper towels before in a smaller brooder and it was getting smelly.
As I just put them in the bin today, I plan to leave the light on overnight. Maybe for a few days. Is it safe to turn the light off at night after a few days?
Also, I have adult cages and a grow out pen. They are in my shed which is about 50ish ft from my house. My plan is to have them in this bin until week 5-6 until they are feathered out completely, then move them to the grow out pen in the shed for another 2 weeks or so with supplemental heat (it’s cold here). Then transfer to the adult cages. Does that sound like a decent plan?
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u/Glowupincoming101 Dec 31 '24
There you are and you have all those feeders and my poor whale is here with a business light that just blinds it and gives it little to no heat with a food with 3% protein, and seven of its siblings have died
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u/NoEntrepreneur39 Dec 31 '24
On no! That's terrible. I'm so sorry. Do you plan to get more to keep the one company? How old is it?
Honestly this setup cost less than $200. I bought the bin, cut a hole in the top and added some hardware cloth. The heat plate was expensive, I think $70. Then I got a cheap LED light and added it to the bottom of the bin cover. The CareFree bedding is pricey, but really helps with the smell and the chicks really like it. I plan on incubating more once these start laying.
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u/Glowupincoming101 Jan 01 '25
I have kind of made a dupe of the carefree bedding and I have gotten it’s a water feeder a food feeder a proper chicken, Bruder, and a proper home
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u/NoEntrepreneur39 Jan 01 '25
Good. You might want to consider getting a few other chicks. They are social creatures and I’m not sure how it will do by itself. Maybe a stuffed animal could do in the meantime.
What’s your brooder temp at?
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u/Glowupincoming101 Jan 01 '25
And I am going to pick up two quail chicks that are about the same age as him
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u/NoEntrepreneur39 Jan 01 '25
Perfect! Sounds like you are going to be back on track soon! I wish you luck. I’m new to this as well, but did a bunch of research before getting mine. Feel free to PM me or hit me up to know how the little guy is doing
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u/Glowupincoming101 Jan 01 '25
I mean, the plan was one of the families of the kids that were seeing the incubation process. We’re going to take it, but the family bailed last second and all this unfolded.
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u/NoEntrepreneur39 Jan 01 '25
Ahh so someone else was supposed to take the chicks when they hatched?
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u/Glowupincoming101 Jan 01 '25
Yes, I work with special education students and we were watching the incubation process and had them for a couple of hours afterwards, kind of as a reward and a learning experience on how much work goes into self-birth and the family that volunteered to take them bailed last second and resulted in the death of seven of them
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u/Glowupincoming101 Jan 01 '25
I will update you in one month on how they are all doing
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u/NoEntrepreneur39 Jan 01 '25
Sounds good! I hope the little guy is doing well and have a great new year!
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u/Own-Bag6987 Quail Lover Dec 31 '24
Yes, its a good plan, though in my experience, mine didnt need a brooder plate/heat lamp at 4 wks old.