Care Instructions

Brooder Temperature

Start your brooder at 95°F during the first week of life. Reduce the temperature by 5°F each week until chicks are fully feathered and no longer need supplemental heat. Always make sure chicks have a cooler area to move to if they get too warm.

Feed

We recommend a good quality Chick Starter/Grower for baby chicks. If you are brooding quail, use a Game Bird Starter/Grower to ensure they get the proper protein levels they need to thrive.

Space

Make sure chicks have ample space to move around comfortably. Have a grow-out pen ready for when they no longer need heat — overcrowding can cause stress and health issues.

Bedding

Keep bedding dry and clean at all times. Damp or dirty bedding can lead to respiratory issues. For quail chicks, use small, non-slip bedding such as puppy pads — wood shavings can be too slippery for their tiny feet and cause leg problems.

Pasty Butt

Check your chicks' bottoms daily, especially in the first week. If you notice droppings stuck to the vent (pasty butt), gently clean the area with a warm damp cloth. Left untreated, this can become life-threatening.

Water

Always use a shallow water dish for quail chicks — they can drown in standard open waterers. Adding marbles or pebbles to the dish is a great way to keep them safe.

Hatching Eggs — Incubation Tips

• Upon receiving shipped eggs, allow them to rest pointy side down for 24 hours before placing in the incubator. This helps the air cells settle after transit.
• Some people soak eggs in hydrogen peroxide before incubation — we are not familiar enough with this practice to recommend it, so we suggest researching it thoroughly before trying.