Almost 4 week old button w scaling skin problem (can’t see any mites). Need help.

[quailbird]

 

[quailbird]

So I had a bad hatch due to temp went whacky But got 3 to hatch, 2 buttons & 1 Cotornix. The scaling, peeling happening is really resolving well in 1 Button & 1 Cotornix.

I’m reaching out here once again for the 1 Button and want to post my original information:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...aky-skin-no-mites-seen.1397347/#post-22932214

Just about 3 week button quail. Difficult hatch w incubator problems. Chick hatched healthy, but curled toes & spraddled on right side. Tried all kinds of the usual, but bird just went nuts & seems to accept her place as handicapped. She can scoot around. Anyways, got a cotornix & another button that had this & since recovered. The other button was healing nicely, but slower than other two until later today and now looks terrible. I vaso her up, put some antibiotic cream on eyes. The yellow looks like staph or strept skin infection. It grew like these pics just today as she looked so much better this morning. She has gained wt, but the other button just weighed in heavier than her @ 1.1 oz. she gained 0.1 oz to 0.8 oz. she eats, cries out when left alone. Eats, drinks, alert with totally normal clean vent and pooing fine. For the life of me I see no mites, but maybe need new glasses. Her legs / feet nice and without peeling.
Am upset since she was starting to grow new feathers. I will take her to the vet if necessary, but its far away. I do have Tractor supply near. I do have Ivermectin liquid topical, neosprin and mupericin available. I’m beside myself & a retired human doctor, but just dont know what to do with her. She has an incredible will and if shes fighting, well so will I. she is a real doll and so happy to sit w me.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm sorry about your Quail.

I'm not sure what's going on there. I've seen a few folks that had chickens chicks with similar problems - they ended up culling them.

I do see on your other thread that you make your own mix of feed? Perhaps try just feeding the chick started without anything added in and see if she starts to improve?


Folks that have/had Quail may recognize this condition I would be interested to find out the cause @007Sean @sdm111 @JaeG

 

[JaeG]

Poor little thing. I have no idea either unfortunately other than a skin infection like you said or perhaps a fungal infection. If that is the case you will need a vet to prescribe antibiotics. Make sure you wash your hands well after handling your birds just in case.

 

[007Sean]

Ooo, I feel so badly for your chick! I agree with @JaeG , it can also be caused by an imbalanced dietary issue, particularly one that is low in vitamin A or ones that have an imbalance of other nutrients, is a common cause of dry flakey skin on the feet and under the feathers. Ectoparasites such as mites can cause thick build-up of skin on the legs of some birds. The actual type of mite varies depending on the bird species.
Bacterial and fungal skin infections may also cause the skin to develop a scaley appearance. Other medical conditions such as liver disorders can make the skin appear unhealthy too.
Definitely a trip to a vet is warranted, may be able to figure out if it's bacterial, fungal, an imbalance of nutrients or mites!
HTH

 

[quailbird]

Ok, this appears to be a staph infection. Some sort of folliculitis. Pics are 24 hours after applying muperacin topically 3 times. Feathers seen starting.
The fact that the other 2 chicks resolved from the same tells me this chick is immunocompromised. Probably due its lameness. But again, the chick has an incredible drive to live. Therefore, I go with it and wont give up on it. Still eats, drinks and everything else is normal but it doesnt move around anything near a normal chick can that isnt lame. I’ll just have to keep treating her. She’s very tame and allows the application of oily muck to her body.
Pictures after 24 hours:

 

[quailbird]

I'm sorry about your Quail.

I'm not sure what's going on there. I've seen a few folks that had chickens chicks with similar problems - they ended up culling them.

I do see on your other thread that you make your own mix of feed? Perhaps try just feeding the chick started without anything added in and see if she starts to improve?


Folks that have/had Quail may recognize this condition I would be interested to find out the cause @007Sean @sdm111 @JaeG

Yes, I agree with dropping down to just regular food and have done that.

 

[quailbird]

Ooo, I feel so badly for your chick! I agree with @JaeG , it can also be caused by an imbalanced dietary issue, particularly one that is low in vitamin A or ones that have an imbalance of other nutrients, is a common cause of dry flakey skin on the feet and under the feathers. Ectoparasites such as mites can cause thick build-up of skin on the legs of some birds. The actual type of mite varies depending on the bird species.
Bacterial and fungal skin infections may also cause the skin to develop a scaley appearance. Other medical conditions such as liver disorders can make the skin appear unhealthy too.
Definitely a trip to a vet is warranted, may be able to figure out if it's bacterial, fungal, an imbalance of nutrients or mites!
HTH

This is the other chick who recover after the first treatment along with the cotornix chick. Aside from a scaly patch on the face, which I’ll apply some of the antibiotic cream now, this button and the cotornix are doing well.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Well that's an improvement! Keep us posted on how this goes, I would be interested to see how well the chick heals up.

 

[007Sean]

I would be willing to bet the farm, it's a vitamin deficiency! Please keep us posted. And as suggested, just feed a complete and balance feed ration of 24% protien. They do not need anything else.