Any advice?

[Jenny]

I just got 17 new birds....well, sort of! Yesterday my brother was trimming the grass around some small trees of ours, and discovered a nest on the ground with 17 eggs in it. He of course startled the mother, and she flew off. It was starting to rain, and rained very hard threw the night. We kept an eye out for her, but she never came back. Today I went to check on the nest, and there was no sign that she was there and the eggs were cold. So, I decided to take them inside to warm them up some and see what I could do. It would have been unsafe to leave them anyway since the grass was no longer covering it, and they were in plain sight. Well, I'm 99% sure that they're bobwhite quail eggs since the nest was just a depression in the ground lined with pine needles and grasses, and the eggs were white with grass stains on them- just like my book said. Also, there's no other kind of bird around that would lay eggs that size on hte ground that I've ever seen, and we've had many quail in our yard this year. The odd thing is that my bird book said that they lay 12-14 eggs, but there were 17. Anyway, so I took them inside and laid them on a bed of old grass clippings, since they keep the heat in nicely, and placed it on my desk. I then covered the eggs with a thin layer of more grass clippings, and put our lizard's heat lamp over the top. Now they are very warm, I've been turning them, and even tried to candle them but the light wasnt' quite bright enough and I couldn't see through the shell. Unfortuneately I don't have a "real" incubator or thermometer, so I'm skeptical that they'll hatch, but thought I'd better at least try. Also, a breeding book I had said that the eggs should be at about 86 degrees F. with about 55% humidity. To get to the point I guess, does anyone have any better ideas of how to try to incubate them, or ways to make a cheap, easy incubator that's reliable? I will look for a thermometer if I can, but don't have one yet and probably won't for at least a few ideas so right now all I can do is keep them warm from the lamp that I know of. So if anyone has any good ideas, I'd love to hear them! Thanks

[birdgirl]

oh thats so cool!!! you should put a bowl of water under the heat lamp as well this will help with the humidity thats the only idea I have right now. I hope every thing terns out ok

[Mrs.Birdy]

Jenny: I don't know if this is good or not, but on another bird board I read that the nest should be returned outside so the mother can locate it. They said that the mother almost always comes back unless she was injured or killed. Ask your vet about it. There are a lot of eggs there for you to handle.

:confused:

[Jenny]

I've thought about that, but since my brother trimmed all the tall grasses that were around it, it seems pretty vulnerable now. Before it was comletely hidden and camoflauged, but now it isn't. Also, we have two cats who know about it so I just don't think it'd be safe.

[birdygirl]

Take the eggs to a rehabilitator. They will know what to do since they deal with that kind of thing almost daily.

[Mrs.Birdy]

Just for my own edification, how do you locate a rehabilitator? I'd like to learn more about this matter in the event I find wildbird eggs, too.

Thanks:confused:

[birdygirl]

I have no idea. We have a few around us. I would call your Avian Vet. He/she would know where to go.

[birdygirl]

I think it would be wise to have a rehabilitator's number on hand. Sophie's vet took care of a baby hawk my aunt found in her backyard and then sent him to the Media Raptor center. So they have numbers on hand. Also check the yellow pages. I think the Avian Vet is more reliable though.

[Jenny]

At the vet clinic I volunteer at the secretary is a certified wildlife rehabber so I'm always around lots of wildlife when I'm there. (squirrels, fawns, baby 'coons, egrets, owls-you name it ,it's been there) I know her very well and will try to get ahold of her. The reason I haven't called yet is because the clinic isn't open on Saturdays or Sundays, and Friday when I got the eggs it was too late to call. She doesn't deal much with bird eggs though- it's mostly the baby wildlife or injured adult animals that she works with-rarely if ever actual eggs. Like Birdygirl said, vets will know who to ask! My vet has millions of phone numbers for places that do that type of stuff. There's a place in Kansas that has ex-convicts do the rehab and lots of the animals we get get sent there since they do a really good job and have the facilities for animals like hawks. Anyway, about my quail eggs, I can't really do anything at the moment except keep them warm. My dad has hatched eggs this way before and many people raise quail, so it's not something completely new.

[Mrs.Birdy]

Jenny....sounds like you have in under control....that's great!

Good luck with the eggs....maybe you can keep one or two of the quails as pets. Sounds good.

Roseanne:D

[birdygirl]

Glad you know what to do.

Goodluck.

[birdgirl]

hey Jenny if those eggs hatch I'll have to come down and help you hand feed LOL I don't know if one person can hand feed 17 birds

[JSimko]

As long as they are kept on the same schedule as far as feeding goes you shouldn't have problems. It may however take two people to clean up the mess.

[dlaura]

It just struck me...............how can you go to camp in two days.....and continue to care for 17 unhatched eggs.

What will you do about them?

[JSimko]

Good question! Now I wonder the same thing.

[birdygirl]

So do I.

[Mrs.Birdy]

I remember Jenny saying she works at a vet's office and there is a woman there who is a rehabilitator or is very knowledgeable with wild bird life.

She probably has everything under control.

[Jenny]

Don't worry -my brother and mom are happy to take over while I'm gone and I've told them what to do. About feeding them- quail are precocial so don't have to be hand-fed like birds such as parrots.

[dlaura]

Jenny,
I have gathered that your birds did very well while you were away and that's great. I'm sure they are happy you are home.

However, whatever happened to the quail eggs? Looking forward to hearing what happened with them.

[conureguy]

first you should check if the eggs are fertile using a method called candeling.

the eggs have to be 5-7 days old for this to work.

just hold a flashlight against the egg gently and look for a little red/orange dot inside the cytoplasm of the egg then it is fertile.

[Jenny]

The quail eggs are still in my bedroom and haven't hatched yet, but it hasn't been over 23 days yet either so they still might. I tried candling them, but couldn't see through the shell. Maybe the light wasn't bright enough... I did, however, find a way to keep the temperature at 86 degrees w/o an incubator! I bought a thermomemter, but it broke as soon as I took it out of the box, then I bought another one but it doesn't seem to be working either. Well, it's been really hot around here and one day when I had the a.c. off I noticed that it said my room was exactlyl 86 degrees! Hot I know, but I"m willing to keep it that hot for at least a few more days. And not to worry, my birds don't mind it being that hot inside either. I'll let you all know if they hatch! It should be within a week.

[dlaura]

Jenny,
I read your post about quail being "precocial" which my dictionary explains as birds being born covered with down and fully active. Are they also ready to eat on their own? If so, what do they eat?

[Jenny]

Yes, they are ready to eat on their own- just like baby chickens. (thank goodness) Since many people raise quail, there are special "quail mixes" which I can get at feed stores around here.

[dlaura]

Well, that would make things a lot easier. I am certainly learning a lot from you Jenny. Everyone at this site is so helpful and informative. Just love it!