➡ Quail Hatch Along🥚

[Kiki]

I need an expert... Bond?? ( @007Sean )

What is the cause of my wee little one weekers' suddenly being unable to walk? Or stand without falling to the side? He kinda walks backwards and falls over.
It only 1 of them. And 2 of the dark pharaohs crouching and can't stand up.

Is this bad genetics? Inbreeding? Nutritional deficiencies in parents?

What do you feed?

 

[CoturnixComplex]

I too have jumped from 0 to 3 problem babies

 

[Crazydoglady99]

 

[Crazydoglady99]

Thanks Kiki. I just read through.. dont think it's the same. Definitely no hyper running

Will try an electrolyte boost in water see how we go!

Edit - I read the thread again. I still don't think it's the same. Still possible it's a deficiency of some sort. I dont know

Its hard for me to know if it's of my own doing? I bought these eggs from the equivalent of craigslist, posted to me. I feel in some ways responsible, even though I don't want to be. Maybe I am tired

 

[007Sean]

I need an expert... Bond?? ( @007Sean )

What is the cause of my wee little one weekers' suddenly being unable to walk? Or stand without falling to the side? He kinda walks backwards and falls over.
It only 1 of them. And 2 of the dark pharaohs crouching and can't stand up.

Is this bad genetics? Inbreeding? Nutritional deficiencies in parents?

It's hard to know. This is one reason I'm very picky about where and from whom I obtain my birds. I also keep records of where the birds came from and where that particular breeder got their birds from....yeah a lot of research and work but the results are I have few problems with my birds and haven't had any diseases in 30 years. Also a strong BIOSECURTY program goes a long way to having healthy birds.

This having been said, I think your probably experiencing a vitamin deficiency. Not just the chicks but it probably extends to the parent birds. I'm a strong believer in if the parent birds are getting a balance and complete nutritional feed, the stronger the chicks will be at hatching, less nutritional defects too! But it's hard to know for sure the birds bodies are utilizing the nutritional value of the feed, until a problem occurs. Some bird's bodies, digestive systems don't develop correctly, thus, when they begin to breed, it will lead to poor survivalbility of their offspring.

I learn this a long time ago. Back in the day it was hard to find high protein feed much less a complete and balanced feed. I had a lot of weak chicks hatching and defects that were not genetic in nature. After switching to higher protein feed those symptoms slowly began to disappear. Back then the highest protein I could get was 16%, I found another source that was 30% and things began to change...then I discovered that that was too much protein, started having digestive problems...it was 'burning them up'. Switched again to 24% protein and the problems went away again.

You really need to look at the analysis of the feed your purchasing, what's on the tag isn't necessarily what's actually in the bag. Most manufactures have a minimum and maximum percentage of protein and vitamins and minerals in their products. Due to operator or mechanical factors those min's and max's may not be accurate.

Sorry for such a long answer but it's not a short, concise question. Falling over, balance problems, walking backwards can be attributed to a Vitamin B deficiency as well as a folic acid deficiency in the hen and to a lesser extent Zinc deficiency.
Hope this helps and doesn't just 'muddy the waters' even more for you.

 

[Crazydoglady99]

Thanks Sean! I appreciate the time it took you to write all that.

As much as I want something to blame other than me, I also want to be sure I'm not completely missing something obvious going on. The ones with leg problems (already culled) all had the same colouring as these with balance problems (and I the one with a dicky neck). So I kinda want to assume there's issues further back up the gene pool.

I have some eggs from my own quailies in the bator now, so that will be the real test as to my quail husbandry!!

Being a bit fanatical is to my own detriment sometimes

Thanks again

 

[007Sean]

Thanks Sean! I appreciate the time it took you to write all that.

As much as I want something to blame other than me, I also want to be sure I'm not completely missing something obvious going on. The ones with leg problems (already culled) all had the same colouring as these with balance problems (and I the one with a dicky neck). So I kinda want to assume there's issues further back up the gene pool.

I have some eggs from my own quailies in the bator now, so that will be the real test as to my quail husbandry!!

Being a bit fanatical is to my own detriment sometimes

Thanks again

Wry neck is definitely a vitamin deficiency. And although there are several peeps that claim they cured the symptom with vitamins...I never got a pheasant chick nor a quail chick to recover from wry neck. Most of the claims for reversal has come from peeps that raise chickens. Idk, maybe some slight difference in physiology?

 

[igorsMistress]

@Crazydoglady99 I had similar issues with my first batch of quail, it took them a little longer to have serious issues but it only got worse. I noticed the behavior in the brooder but they would see me and take off just fine so I waited until I could identify which chicks had issues Mine were also all one color that had problems.

Since all the rest were fine, I atrributed it to something with the parents being passed down. I'm not buying eggs from that person again. It's probably not your fault.

 

[Crazydoglady99]

Thanks Igor! Did you take a hiatus? I was just thinking a few days ago I hadn't seen you pop in. And here you are!

It's a bit of a minefield buying eggs isn't it

I was watching the little boogers just now, and I think it is do with their legs/hips/feet or something. The worst falling over one, can walk, but limping. And falls over on his side, then can't get up. I will cull them, for their own sake - and my sake.

 

[igorsMistress]

Thanks Igor! Did you take a hiatus? I was just thinking a few days ago I hadn't seen you pop in. And here you are!

It's a bit of a minefield buying eggs isn't it

I was watching the little boogers just now, and I think it is do with their legs/hips/feet or something. The worst falling over one, can walk, but limping. And falls over on his side, then can't get up. I will cull them, for their own sake - and my sake.

I quit smoking and been a little grumpy. Now I'm having sleep issues. I've been keeping an eye on things though.

Yes, it's crazy when you're looking for eggs! I don't want to do the shipping bit, you don't know the conditions the quail are kept in and just have to hope for the best.
I confirmed yesterday with a local quail keeper to pick up 4 dozen eggs at the beginning of March, then hatching chickens for the Easter HAL right after. We're going to have a LOT of babies. I hope.

I think your right about the issues. If you kept them around you'd likely see them laying around a lot and mobility will get worse as they get bigger. I culled early. Hated to do it but was for the best.