Bad Injury to my quail last night- Anyone have any idea?

[kjoseph93]

Hi Everyone,

I keep my birds in a raised hutch that is half wire/ half litter.

This morning when I went out to feed them I noticed a significant amount of blood on tops of the feeder and on a roost that is in the hutch.

Sometimes the quail will hurt each other by pecking each others heads and I thought that might be what had happened.

Upon further investigation, I saw one of the quail hobbling around. I have attached two pictures of her injuries. Lost two toes on one foot and a bunch of her belly feathers

Does anyone have any idea what could have caused this? My first thought was a rat but I am really not sure how a rat would have gotten up the legs of the hutch and them climbed along the bottom of the wire?

Quail heal fast but does anyone think this might be too much? Should I cull her?


Thanks all,

KS

 

[gamebirdsonly]

I have had cats do that.

 

[aart]

How high is bottom of hutch?
What do you mean 'half wire/half litter'?
How big is the wire?