A New Year's Day surprise!

[kimbits]

I've currently got 3 hens (all sisters) brooding over their own piles of dud eggs. One of them, Toni, I had placed 2 dud (so I thought) button quail eggs along with her own, in order to get her to stop laying.

She's been faithfully sitting on all of them for the past few weeks, and this morning when I woke up I kept hearing this loud "peeep, peeep peeep!" coming from my den room.

The sound emanated from Toni's nest box, and when I looked inside I saw a button quail chick!

So I sprinkled a bunch of the starter feed which I feed the adult quail, as well as some egg food all over the bottom of the nest box. I also placed a small dish of water in there in case he gets thirsty. Toni is currently sitting on her own duds and also letting the quail chick snuggle up with her. Will she feed him? For now, at least, she's keeping him warm, but as this is the first time she's ever actually taken care of a chick, I'm unsure if she'll do it properly. Usually I try to let my animals' instincts take over instead of trying to mess with it.

Because quail hatch fully feathered, it's not as easy to tell if his crop is full, like it is with budgie chicks.

Here is a pic of the little mite:


And of Toni, busily stuffing her face so she can (hopefully) feed him:

EDIT: Well, Toni has proven herself to be unfit for quail mum duty, as I just found the little guy shivering at the other end of the nest box I got him warmed up under a heat lamp, gave him a few sips of water from my fingernail, and now he's running around like a bumblebee.

[brian1]

Jan 1, 2012 19:32:53 GMT kimbits said:

I've currently got 3 hens (all sisters) brooding over their own piles of dud eggs. One of them, Toni, I had placed 2 dud (so I thought) button quail eggs along with her own, in order to get her to stop laying.

She's been faithfully sitting on all of them for the past few weeks, and this morning when I woke up I kept hearing this loud "peeep, peeep peeep!" coming from my den room.

The sound emanated from Toni's nest box, and when I looked inside I saw a button quail chick!

So I sprinkled a bunch of the starter feed which I feed the adult quail, as well as some egg food all over the bottom of the nest box. I also placed a small dish of water in there in case he gets thirsty. Toni is currently sitting on her own duds and also letting the quail chick snuggle up with her. Will she feed him? For now, at least, she's keeping him warm, but as this is the first time she's ever actually taken care of a chick, I'm unsure if she'll do it properly. Usually I try to let my animals' instincts take over instead of trying to mess with it.

Because quail hatch fully feathered, it's not as easy to tell if his crop is full, like it is with budgie chicks.

Here is a pic of the little mite:


And of Toni, busily stuffing her face so she can (hopefully) feed him:

EDIT: Well, Toni has proven herself to be unfit for quail mum duty, as I just found the little guy shivering at the other end of the nest box I got him warmed up under a heat lamp, gave him a few sips of water from my fingernail, and now he's running around like a bumblebee.

HI Kim, budgies feed their chicks laid on their backs,so it's hardly likely she will feed a quail as they feed up right..........

[kimbits]

Yup, she was good for incubating, but definitely not for rearing! The little one is now learning to peck at the crumbles, and follows my hand where ever it goes

[budgiefriend]

Toni did her part well. The little quail chick is so cute. Good luck rearing the little one. Keep us posted on his progress.

[stace]

That's so funny. Budgie must have thought she'd laid a really ugly baby. Now you'll have to tell us how the quail is doing...

[kimbits]

I'm happy to report that little Bumbles is doing well!

Here s/he is the day after hatching:

Me teaching him to peck for food (he's much more coordinated by now!):

And at one-week old:

And snoozing in the food dish lol:

Poor thing wants to be with his own kind, but the adults would kill him if I put him in there Might be able to integrate him if he turns out to be a she though.

[Hezz]

Poor Bumbles! Maybe he will decide to be human, instead.

[BudgiesBuddy]

Interesting story of little Bumbles

[budgiefriend]

Poor little Bumbles. So tiny and cute. Could a "he" be accepted by other button quail when he is completely grown up?

[Marianne Marlow]

Aw, what a sweetie. Lovely little Bumbles.

[kimbits]

Bumbles likes her nightly cuddles--the wee one practically jumped into my hand tonight! I'm hoping this semi-tameness will continue as she gets older

[Hezz]

Jan 11, 2012 0:13:22 GMT kimbits said:

Bumbles likes her nightly cuddles--the wee one practically jumped into my hand tonight! I'm hoping this semi-tameness will continue as she gets older

Surely it will if you keep up the human contact? And how could you not? Such a tiny cute little thing!

[kimbits]

I can't seem to resist!

[budgiefriend]

What a little cutie. You two will be best friends forever.

[BudgiesBuddy]

I love how tiny and cute he is