Hello all,
Once again I'm hoping to benefit from the wisdom of people with more quail experience than me. On Sunday one of my three Japanese quail chicks developed trouble walking. It is 1.5 weeks old and has had no trouble with splayed hips or any other issues/abnormalities (that I could see) up to that point.
Since Sunday, the chick has not been able to walk properly- its chest is always low to the ground, and its wings are always slightly outstretched. The hips are spread out wide, but the feet appear to be normally spaced apart and when it tries to walk it more or less only manages to stamp in place, sometimes stumbling in one direction.
I've searched the internet but haven't been able to find any information on this issue, possibly because I don't know exactly what to search for. My best guess is that it's one of three problems.
1. Maybe it developed splayed legs (is that possible at 1.5 weeks old?)
2. It may have suffered a traumatic brain injury by jumping and hitting its head and now doesn't know how to walk, because it can still eat, drink and preen normally. There is a mesh covering the roof of the brooder box but maybe it bonked its head on the heat lamp just above this.
3. Maybe another chick jumped and landed on it, injuring its back.
I've included some photos. I haven't been able to find any posts or photos that seem to show the same problem, but I apologize if this issue has already been addressed in the forums. Any advice/instruction is welcome!
Kind regards
,
Once again I'm hoping to benefit from the wisdom of people with more quail experience than me. On Sunday one of my three Japanese quail chicks developed trouble walking. It is 1.5 weeks old and has had no trouble with splayed hips or any other issues/abnormalities (that I could see) up to that point.
Since Sunday, the chick has not been able to walk properly- its chest is always low to the ground, and its wings are always slightly outstretched. The hips are spread out wide, but the feet appear to be normally spaced apart and when it tries to walk it more or less only manages to stamp in place, sometimes stumbling in one direction.
I've searched the internet but haven't been able to find any information on this issue, possibly because I don't know exactly what to search for. My best guess is that it's one of three problems.
1. Maybe it developed splayed legs (is that possible at 1.5 weeks old?)
2. It may have suffered a traumatic brain injury by jumping and hitting its head and now doesn't know how to walk, because it can still eat, drink and preen normally. There is a mesh covering the roof of the brooder box but maybe it bonked its head on the heat lamp just above this.
3. Maybe another chick jumped and landed on it, injuring its back.
I've included some photos. I haven't been able to find any posts or photos that seem to show the same problem, but I apologize if this issue has already been addressed in the forums. Any advice/instruction is welcome!
Kind regards