Badly injured Quail

[Jeffeff95]

Hey everyone,

A few weeks back I purchased 3 Japanese button quail, 2 females and 1 male.
I have been housing them in a small enclosed coop by themselves.
About a week ago I moved a duckling which is about 5-6 weeks old and 2 chicks around the same age into the same coop. Everything has been going great, no issues or fighting but this morning I got up to go check them and found 2 of the quail injured, one more serious then the other.
One has a small cut in the back of its head that is bleeding slightly but the other one had his head skin ripped and pulled over its head so it couldn't see.
Its still alive and acting normal as usual but I am nervous.
At first I thought it might have been a weasel but I am a bit skeptical because when I had a weasel issue in the past it always killed what it attacked, never injured the bird then left (This was also with a full grown chicken) so a quail I figured would have been demolished, so at this point I am starting to think it might have been the duck or the chicks.
Anyways I am wondering what everyone thinks! Thanks for any replies in advanced!

 

[Fishsticks06]

Oh no, that’s terrible to hear. If your chickens are larger than the quails, the suspect would likely be your chickens. I also could see a weasel doing the same thing with weasels, probably tried to wrap around your quails head but ended up getting shooed off by your larger fowl. Back to the chickens. Yes, they’ll peck and pluck smaller birds to establish dominance or because they’re bored. I hope this helped. Also update us about your quails health!

 

[MelissaRose]

Can you please post some pictures? Something very similar happened to one of my quails.

I would separate the hurt quails, so you can monitor them better and the chicks and duckling wont peck the red.

 

[MelissaRose]

Tagging some people who may be able to help:
@Henriettamom919 @azygous

 

[Henriettamom919]

Hey everyone,

A few weeks back I purchased 3 Japanese button quail, 2 females and 1 male.
I have been housing them in a small enclosed coop by themselves.
About a week ago I moved a duckling which is about 5-6 weeks old and 2 chicks around the same age into the same coop. Everything has been going great, no issues or fighting but this morning I got up to go check them and found 2 of the quail injured, one more serious then the other.
One has a small cut in the back of its head that is bleeding slightly but the other one had his head skin ripped and pulled over its head so it couldn't see.
Its still alive and acting normal as usual but I am nervous.
At first I thought it might have been a weasel but I am a bit skeptical because when I had a weasel issue in the past it always killed what it attacked, never injured the bird then left (This was also with a full grown chicken) so a quail I figured would have been demolished, so at this point I am starting to think it might have been the duck or the chicks.
Anyways I am wondering what everyone thinks! Thanks for any replies in advanced!

First, I'm so sorry this happened! Definitely separate the quail and keep the badly injured one totally segregated for now.

Can you share some pictures of the wound? The most important step will be keeping it free from infection and flies, then from pecking. It you have nutridrench I'd offer some to support healing and if not pick some up (or have someone go for you) when you can.

 

[azygous]

If quail heal as quickly and easily as chickens, you shouldn't be worried you will lose the injured little things. Look at my recent thread on a scalped hen. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/bad-roo-poor-hen-lightening-strikes-twice.1308349/ She is now healed and feathers even regrew because I stifled the urge to cut the detached flap of skin off.

Clean the wounds well with saline, and dress with Vetericyn and antibiotic ointment without pain killer. Keep the wounds moist with ointment at all times and new skin will grow in and the flap, if laid over the ointment will eventually graft to the open wound.

 

[Jeffeff95]

I appreciate the replies everyone! I was in a rush this morning getting to work so I didn't have time to snap pics but I will when I get home today. I appreciate all of the replies! When I picked him up this morning I actually had to pull some of the skin back so the little one could see. They are all separated now.

 

[Jeffeff95]

If quail heal as quickly and easily as chickens, you shouldn't be worried you will lose the injured little things. Look at my recent thread on a scalped hen. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/bad-roo-poor-hen-lightening-strikes-twice.1308349/ She is now healed and feathers even regrew because I stifled the urge to cut the detached flap of skin off.

Clean the wounds well with saline, and dress with Vetericyn and antibiotic ointment without pain killer. Keep the wounds moist with ointment at all times and new skin will grow in and the flap, if laid over the ointment will eventually graft to the open wound.

Thank you for this!
I'm sorry your little one had to go through that but I am glad there is good hope!
Will post updates as soon as possible

 

[Jeffeff95]

Sorry for the late reply everyone!
After cleaning out all of the wounds and keeping an eye on them the quail have made a full recovery. The 2 are even laying now! I am thinking that the smaller duck they were housed with might have been the culprit as I have had no issues since. Duck was moved outside the pen where he free ranges with 2 other mallard/pekin crosses and 2 6 week old chicks.
Hopefully have some more quail hatching once I get enough eggs collected!

 

[almanquail]

I am glad they are doing ok, did you see the other birds attacking your quail when they got injured? don't you think that they got startled at night by the other birds moving around and fly straight up and injured their heads?