more babies

[Diane]

Ive had babies popping out all over the place this morning!

Got at least four or five gouldians just hatched out, judging by the noise.

My two BFPF have fledged this morning.

Also four baby quail, they are so tiny! I saw one running around after Dad, two in the nest and then I saw one dead one, eyes closed, totally floppy, no movement and legs stretched out. So I picked it up to dispose of it and I was messing about outside the aviary when I felt it move in my hand
It was still alive! So I breathed on it for a while and held it in my hand and after a while it started cheeping so I put it back out with the others, all this happened at 8am this morning and Ive just checked and there are still four running around. There is another four eggs still in the nest so will have to see what happens to them.

I know everyone says baby quail are tiny but now that I have seen them I realized I would have to add some more stones in the water dish so they wont drown, dont think there is anywhere more than 3 mm deep in the main water container. I have also given them a jar lid with water in it as I didnt think they would be able to get to the main water container as it has quite deep sides, the parent quail can reach but probably too steep for the babies.

Baby quail 009.jpg

[flap]

so cute!!!!!!!!!! can't wait till we put our two quails in the aviary and see what happens...

[Jayburd]

I have a quail on a nest ATM as well. cute aren't they?? Once got 19 out of 20 eggs to hatch.

[Jayburd]

just be careful of drowning, they REALLY aren't good simmers. Try putting a few small brightly coloured marbles in the jam lid, it helps attract their attention.
Also be careful they can jump up to 30cm from the day they hatch.

[Diane]

I added stones to the main water a week ago and Ive added even more this morning, dont think there is one bit of water that could even wet their feathers! Just tiny little puddles between the stones.

Just been out looking at them, there is a definate colour difference in the two that were out and about. One is very deep orangey and dark brown and the other one is very pale yellow and brown, is this a difference between the sexes or something else?

[Jayburd]

oh good

[Mickp]

its nice to see that those quail are breeding for you
they must be happy in their new home

[mr.fox]

Must have been all that rain last night ;) Always happens that way. Babies decide to pop out when it's cold and miserable or you're running late for work.
Baby quail!!! they're little, walking accidents waiting to happen. Looks like their dad is taking good care of em.

[Matt.D]

Good work on the babies, love to see successfull breeding of any varierty.
What do you provide for your quails to nest in or materials for them to make their own nests with?
Have had button quails in our small prefab aviary for a couple of months now, but have just moved them into a much bigger sand based and half enclosed aviary so wasnt sure if there was anything inparticular I need to put down or provide for them to nest in? Have 4 females and 3 males, normals and silvers. Thanks guys.

[Diane]

I have branches of Woolly pine in the aviary and thanks to the young gouldians shredding skills quite a lot of that ends up on the floor along with the leaves off a tree they are trying to kill!
I did put some coconut fibre and swamp grass down in a corner and they must have liked it as thats where the eggs were laid. I propped up some branches "teepee" style over the top for a bit more cover, and I have a piece of trellis with woolly pine branches snaked through it in front of the nest.