Monitoring newly hatched quail chicks

[TeresaW]

I am trying to plan some events over the next couple of months, but I also want to hatch some quail eggs. My question is about how much they need to be monitored in the brooder once they hatch. In other words how long can they be left alone if I need to go somewhere for a couple hours or an entire day?

Specifically I am pet/house sitting until Sept. 13. I'm away for the entire day on Sept. 20. I'm leading a Bible study for six Wed. evenings at church starting Sept. 25. And, I have a memorial service to go to (all day pretty much) on Oct. 19.

Can this be worked around, or should I wait to hatch after Oct. 30, when the Bible study ends? I really don't want to have to wait that long. I've never hatched any kind of eggs before. This will be button quail.

 

[Jener8or]

Do you have the eggs yet? If you do, you don't want to wait longer than 10 days to incubate them (and make sure they are being turned at least 3X a day, an odd number of times is better, so they go overnight on different sides.) Since you will be gone all day Sept. 20, I would arrange the hatch 'til after that. (So set them on the 7th or so.)

If you can get a feeder and waterer set up so that they don't run out of food or water, they should be fine. I would definitely try to use one of those heating plates instead of a heat lamp if you are leaving, just to be safe. Also, I don't know if you have any other pets, but make sure the brooder is pet-proofed, of course, if they are unsupervised.

It does seem like you have a lot going on, so waiting, just for peace of mind, wouldn't hurt, and it may be a little risky with a bit less supervision, but I think you could go ahead and hatch them if you aren't wanting to wait, especially if it is only a few hours in the evening. By Oct. 19th, they should be pretty hardy. I would definitely plan on being there for the majority of the hatch, though, that is the exciting part!

All of this is coming from someone with only experience with hatching coturnix quail, though, so hopefully someone with button quail experience will give their thoughts as well! Good luck with your hatch!

 

[TeresaW]

I don't have the eggs yet, no. I know they ideally need to be set 24 hrs. after receiving them. Resting point down.

I do have a cat and yes, I will make their brooder pet proof and also shut it in the basement where the cat can't get to it.

To set them on the 7th, I'd have to do it here where I'm house sitting. Then on the 13th drive the incubator home. 20 min. drive. It doesn't have an auto-turner. Is taking the incubator for a short drive too risky?

 

[Nabiki]

There shouldn't be a problem with a 20 minute drive with your incubator.

It should be fine to leave your chicks in the brooder for up to a day. I would want to check on them a bit more often to make sure none get stuck away from the heat for the first two days, but after that, they're pretty safe.

 

[TeresaW]

Well the problem is the 20th. I'll be gone all day and won't be able to turn the eggs. So I guess this is all going to have to wait until after October 19th.

 

[Susan Skylark]

As long as the eggs are past day 12 turning isn’t an issue, also you could turn them before you leave and when you get home. Missing 1 turn for 1 day isn’t an issue! And as long as you don’t have chicks/eggs in lockdown it isn’t a problem to leave your new chicks alone for a day assuming water/feed won’t run out. I use a little hamster bottle from the start (way less mess than a bowl) and even new babies can figure i out (tap their beak to it as you place them in the brooder so they associate it with water). They are fun little buggers!

 

[TeresaW]

As long as the eggs are past day 12 turning isn’t an issue, also you could turn them before you leave and when you get home. Missing 1 turn for 1 day isn’t an issue! And as long as you don’t have chicks/eggs in lockdown it isn’t a problem to leave your new chicks alone for a day assuming water/feed won’t run out. I use a little hamster bottle from the start (way less mess than a bowl) and even new babies can figure i out (tap their beak to it as you place them in the brooder so they associate it with water). They are fun little buggers!

That helps a lot, thanks .

 

[Pipsnchicks]

Are you hatching them or will they be already hatched?

If they're already hatched, they will be just fine to be left alone for the day (or longer) given they've got food and water that can last that long and are pretty established.

If they'll be in an incubator, it kind of depends on the incubator you're using. Some need more attention than others if they get too hot or too cold. But most reliable ones are pretty solid. I have a GQF and I literally set them and don't come back until lockdown and a day after hatch.

 

[TeresaW]

It's a Little Giant with no auto turner that'll need to be monitored daily.

 

[Pipsnchicks]

It's a Little Giant with no auto turner that'll need to be monitored daily.

I'd be less worried about turning (if you miss a day of turning, it won't majorly affect your hatch rate), and more worried about temp staying constant. If you see temprature spikes or dips by a degree or more regularly, I wouldn't trust it alone for an hour. But if it holds constant (tested with a separate thermometer) without any adjustments throughout the days or weeks leading up to it then I wouldn't worry about being gone for a weekend.