Quail are small game birds that are popular among hunters and backyard poultry enthusiasts. They are known for their tasty meat and eggs. Quail breeding can be an enjoyable hobby, but it does come with some challenges. One of the biggest questions quail owners have is what percentage of quail chicks survive to adulthood. There are many factors that affect quail chick survival rates, which leads to a wide range of estimates. In this article, we will explore quail chick mortality and what impacts their chances of survival.
What Percentage of Quail Chicks Survive?
Estimates for quail chick survival rates vary quite a bit. Some sources estimate survival rates between 20-60%, while others estimate 40-80% on average survive. This large range is due to differences in housing, diet, genetics, predators, weather, and other factors. Commercial quail farms tend to have higher survival rates since they control these factors closely. Backyard quail raisers face more variability and challenges. Even in ideal controlled conditions, it is common for 10-30% of chicks to die. Overall, a good target survival rate for backyard quail is 50-70% on average.
Causes of Quail Chick Mortality
Many things can affect the survival rate of newborn quail chicks. Here are some of the most common causes of mortality:
Genetics and Health
Weak or unhealthy chicks are less likely to survive to adulthood. Some common health issues include:
– Genetic defects – Certain bloodlines may carry inherited weaknesses or abnormalities.
– Egg defects – Eggs that are stored improperly, infertile, or have structural issues can produce less viable chicks.
– Hatching problems – Issues like getting stuck in the shell, poor oxygenation, or physical defects can harm chicks.
– Birth defects – Physical abnormalities that prevent chicks from moving, eating, drinking, etc.
– Infections – Bacterial, viral, or fungal illnesses can kill chicks. Salmonella is a common threat.
– Parasites – Mites, lice, worms, and other parasites can infest and weaken chicks.
Environmental Factors
The quail’s environment plays a major role in survival of young chicks. Problems with the brooding setup can jeopardize chicks.
– Temperature – Quail chicks need 95°F for the first week and gradual cooling after that. Chilling is deadly.
– Ventilation – Proper air flow is vital to dispersing heat and gases. Poor ventilation can overheat chicks or allow buildup of ammonia.
– Bedding – Wet, moldy, or irritating bedding materials can cause health issues. Paper towels work well for starting chicks.
– Predators – Rodents, snakes, and insects can kill young chicks. Securing housing is crucial.
– Weather – Extreme cold, heat, humidity, rain, or wind can stress chicks. Sheltering housing is important.
– Space – Overcrowding causes competition for food, water, and warmth. Adequate space prevents piling.
– Sanitation – Built up manure, mud, mold, etc. harbor diseases. Daily cleaning prevents illness.
Nutrition Factors
Proper diet is essential to chick health and survival. Common nutrition issues include:
– Food availability – Chicks can starve without adequate access to starter feed and water. Providing chick feed 24/7 prevents starvation.
– Nutrient deficiencies – Lack of key vitamins and minerals weakens immunity and causes deformities. Commercial chick starter avoids deficiencies.
– Contaminants – Spoiled or moldy feed makes chicks sick. Storing feed properly prevents contamination.
– Improper diet – Feeding adult feed too soon, dog food, etc. can cause health issues. Chicks need starter feed for 6-8 weeks.
– Dehydration – Restricted water access leads to dehydration. Providing clean, cool water always is vital.
– Overeating – Allowing chicks to gorge can cause impacted crops and disease. Monitoring feed prevents overeating issues.
Maximizing Quail Chick Survival
Here are some tips for giving quail chicks the best chance at survival:
– Select healthy breeding stock from quality bloodlines. Well-bred quail produce stronger chicks. Cull birds with defects.
– Incubate eggs properly. Follow incubator guidelines for temperature, humidity, and turning. Discard cracked, misshapen, and infertile eggs.
– Hatch chicks in a clean, predator-proof brooder. Maintain proper temperature and ventilation. Use safe, absorbent bedding. Provide food and water immediately.
– Feed a quality starter feed made for quail. Offer chick grit to aid digestion. Avoid medicating feed without cause.
– Provide adequate space for exercise and to prevent crowding. Add space or move chicks to larger housing as they grow.
– Clean the brooder daily to remove manure, feathers, and spilled feed. Disinfect regularly to prevent disease outbreaks.
– Inspect chicks daily for illness, injuries, or abnormal behavior. Remove sick birds promptly for treatment or culling.
– Protect housing from predators and pests. Secure doors, windows, vents, etc. Use traps/bait for rodents. Check for snakes and insects.
– Gradually acclimate chicks to the outside environment. Allow access to an outside run when fully feathered and weather permits.
– Avoid stressors like handling, loud noises, medication, diet changes, and overcrowding when possible.
– Cull (humanely euthanize) chicks that are chronically ill, struggling to walk, severely deformed, or unlikely to thrive.
With excellent breed stock, a well-managed brooding setup, proper nutrition, and close monitoring, you can hope to achieve 60-80% survival of your quail chicks. Some loss is always expected, but following best practices will maximize your success.
Quail Chick Survival By Age
Mortality rates for quail chicks tend to be highest in the first 2 weeks of life. However losses can occur at any growth stage. Here is an overview of common survival rates by age:
Hatch to 1 week
– Highest mortality rate
– Up to 30% deaths common
– Causes: hatching issues, birth defects, illness, chilling, starvation
1 to 2 weeks
– High mortality continues
– 10-25% deaths still common
– Causes: disease outbreaks, environment issues, deformities
2 to 4 weeks
– Mortality rate decreases
– 5-15% losses common
– Causes: accidents, predation, lingering illness
4 to 8 weeks
– Low mortality expected
– Less than 10% deaths
– Causes: crowding, cannibalism, infection outbreaks
8+ weeks
– Very low losses anticipated
– 1-5% deaths
– Causes: disease, injury, predators
The highest amount of chick loss generally occurs in the first 2 weeks when chicks are most fragile. However, deaths can still happen at any time during rearing. Close monitoring and care are vital even as chicks mature.
How Gender Affects Quail Chick Survival
Research shows that female quail chicks tend to have slightly higher survival rates compared to males. This is believed to be partially due to physiological differences that make males more susceptible to disease and defects. Here is some information on how gender impacts survival:
– Females may receive antibodies and hormones from egg yolks that boost immunity slightly.
– Testosterone levels in male embryos may negatively impact development and viability.
– Males tend to have higher metabolic rates which can make them grow quicker but be less resilient.
– Males can be more aggressive and competitive around feed which stresses their bodies.
– Abnormalities of the sex organs occur more often in males.
– Infections like coccidiosis and salmonella more commonly kill males.
– Males are more prone to leg problems and deformities which reduces mobility.
– Cannibalism among chicks tends to affect males disproportionately.
– Some studies show 2-6% higher female survival in controlled research conditions.
So while gender may only account for a small difference in survival rate, females do tend to have an advantage. However, both male and female survival depends much more heavily on overall hatching conditions, diet, housing, and care. With excellent management practices, high survival can be achieved for both sexes.
Does Egg Size Impact Quail Chick Survival?
Egg size can make a difference in the survival rate and initial size of quail chicks. Larger eggs tend to produce larger, stronger chicks. Here is some information on how egg size impacts chicks:
– Chicks from larger eggs (>10g) hatch larger and more mature than small egg chicks.
– Increased egg size correlates with higher hatchling body weight and growth rates.
– Larger hatchlings from big eggs have better thermoregulation and mobility which supports survival.
– Chicks from larger eggs have bigger yolks which provide more nutrients for early development.
– Higher quality embryos tend to be present in big eggs compared to small or second lay eggs.
– First lay and double yolk eggs over 10g have prime hatchability rates around 90%.
– Survival rates gradually decrease for smaller first lay eggs down to 8g in size.
– Second lay eggs under 8g have much poorer hatching success around 60% or less.
– Very small eggs often hatch chicks too weak to establish eating and drinking.
To maximize survival rates, setting eggs at least 10g in size from first quality lays is ideal. But proper incubation and brooding practices can help chicks from smaller eggs thrive. While egg size impacts initial chick quality, good management is key to ongoing survival.
Conclusion
Quail chick survival rates can vary widely based on genetics, health, environment, nutrition and other factors. While some loss is always expected, focusing on best practices in breeding, incubating, and rearing gives quail chicks the greatest odds to reach adulthood. Key considerations for optimal survival include:
– Selecting quality breeding stock and properly incubating eggs
– Providing a clean, well-equipped, and predator-proof brooder habitat
– Maintaining proper temperature, ventilation, sanitation, and space
– Supplying a balanced diet with adequate feed, grit, and clean water
– Monitoring chicks closely and frequently for issues needing attention
– Minimizing stress and gradually acclimating chicks to the outdoors
– Culling chicks that are unlikely to thrive
With excellent management, backyard quail raisers can expect 50-70% or better of hatchlings to survive to adulthood. While a 30% or more loss in the first weeks is common, survival improves going forward if chicks get an ideal start to life. Careful attention to the factors discussed above can shift survival towards the upper end of the range. With time and experience, many quail owners attain 70-80% survival rates or higher.
