baby botton quail

[vslopes]

hi i got a question about baby botton quail my female is sitting on 12 eggs and they will atch on the 24 my floor in the flight is plywood is that ok or there legs will get spaid ? the flight is 8 f by 8 f

[Sheather]

Quail can run the day they are born, so their legs are already developed and should not splay after hatching.

[Chrismurdoch3]

Yes that is plenty of space for the chicks and the plywood will be fine for the chicks to walk on. The only time chicks can get splayed legs is when they are on slippery surfaces like news paper or smooth plastic so your plywood should be fine.
Also these chicks are very tiny when they hatch so make sure there no little nooks and cracks that they can get stuck in and won't be able to get out. Also make sure there is no large water dishes on the floor or the chicks will get in and could possibly drown. You can put in a very shallow dish with marbles in it for the first couple of days to be safe.
One last thing, do you have any other button quail in the cage with the mom who is sitting on the eggs? If so I would highly recomend that you remove any other quail from the cage even the dad because from past experience the other quail can get violent with the chicks and peck them and seriously injure them. The mother is more than capable to care for all of the chicks by herself
Good luck and hopefully you will get a good hatch.

[Paul's Amazing Birds]

Splayed legs are no fun. I would put a piece of cloth or a bath towel over the space where mom and babies will be together. Your food and water devices should be shallow with some glass marbles if possible so they don't drown in the drinking water This is a home made brooder set up that I use for up to 25 at a time.

Paul

[vslopes]

i got the father in there to i got the outdoor part of the flight maybe i should live the male on the outside part for the first 2 weeks do you think after they grow a little he will be ok with them? i don't have any other place to keep them

[Paul's Amazing Birds]

Any recent pics of your set up with vegetation, water features and birds?
How are the Goulds doing now?

If there is only one pair of Buttons, they can probably stay together with the chicks but I would keep a close watch in the beginning to make sure the dad is not aggressive or disruptive when the mom is trying to keep the chicks warm. If you haven't already, you might want to set up some brushy hiding places in the bird room for mom and babies. I use wood shavings on the floor in those areas.

You also might consider building a ramp with quail access door about 2' or 3' wide x 1' high from the outside area to the weather protected area. I would hinge it at the top so it's easy to prop the door open. This time of year I give my birds free access to all inside and outside areas all the time. On cold or windy or rainy nights I usually herd the Button Quail back into the protected area and shut the door. All other birds know to go there at night to roost,

Paul

[vslopes]

don't have to many pics lately i don't have any greenery on the outside maybe i should have the gouldians are fine i have just 12 babies alive but im happy

[Paul's Amazing Birds]

How did your Button Quail hatch go?