I have a pair of quails who hatched 7 babies on Aug 5. In the days following, I noticed that the father pecked at the chicks feet so we put the mother in a cage with the chicks away from the father. Now some of the chicks have been pecking the other chicks feet. Today I noticed blood on their cuttlefish. I've taken out two of the chicks and have them in a shoe box with a lamp on them and some water and food.

 

My question is will they be okay without the mother at this age?

 

Thanks.

 

Simon

Hey,

 

My king quail hatched 5 babies bout 4 weeks ago also.

The babies don't need the mother at all from hatching, they are right on their own from day one, as long as heat is provided, food , water to them.

Do you have a lamp the the mother and remaining chicks??? If so make sure its a coloured or at least frosted globe. They tend to peck eachother when lights too bright, and colours globes like red, blue etc mask the blood. Prevents pecking!!!!

 

In future when the few days before hatching remove the father out. They can get very agressive towards the chicks....even killing them.

Hope this helps...

Topic moved into off topic as quails are not budgies....

 

Questions regarding health and support etc. of other animals besides budgies will be removed. However, feel free to post about your other pets with images etc.

for your babies.

Wish my many eggs came to something!

thats strange about the father because my males look after their young

I agree with nowbudgie 100%

Some male's are super aggressive to the point of killing their own young. I had one father who was the best dad you could ask for but one of his sons ended up being a killer of his offspring.

It's a matter of trial and error. If they kill once they will continue to do so. For any future pairings do as suggested as remove the father just prior to hatching. Only problem is the male & female will loudly call out for each other.

I have never had baby quails as i only have a single male in my aviary. Most budgie owners have a quail or two and all i can say is... photos PLEASE :rofl:

yeah pics would be nice. unfortunatly my pair of quail never got to the stage of hatching: she was not a good sitter: no patience. then she died. trying to get him a new mate.