So, I have recently run into a medical emergency with one of my female button quail. Yesterday, I noticed that she started to sit in a fluffed and balled up position with her eyes closed. She doesn't move or react to the other birds when she's sitting like this. Almost like she was in pain or at least uncomfortable. She was also trembling slightly, but they are so small that when they sit still just breathing causes them to tremble slightly, so it could be unrelated. I felt and examined her entire underside, vent, and whole body and didn't notice anything out of the ordinary. However, she's so tiny and I don't exactly know what I'm looking for, so it's highly likely I missed something. When I added food to their bowl she ran over and ate with no issues and she jumped up on a 6" tall ledge for treats with no problems. However, after she was done eating she chose a spot in the cage and resumed her balled up position.
Today, I noticed that she is now having trouble walking and running. She is very off balance and trips and falls onto her right side while trying to move. She can still get to her food, water, and favorite basking spot but is still tripping and off balance as she moves. She also is only opening her eyes about halfway in between her breathing in her balled up position. The only other change in health since this started that I have noticed is the area right above her beak is more scruffy. Like she has less feathers and the area is more reddish.
I don't know if she has laid any eggs in the past 2 days (she's in a coop with other females). She is indoors so she has very limited exposure to disease/parasites. She is 2 years old now, but was perfectly healthy just 2 days prior. She has never displayed these symptoms before and I haven't seen them in any of my other birds. The only other recent change I have noticed is that lately one of my females is laying blue eggs with incredibly thin and fragile shells. She is with other females, so I can't guarantee who is laying them. Aside from egg complications or nutritional deficiencies, I don't know what the issue might be, or even how to address it. She's so small that I am limited to what I can do to help, but would be open to any advice and ideas! Thanks!
Today, I noticed that she is now having trouble walking and running. She is very off balance and trips and falls onto her right side while trying to move. She can still get to her food, water, and favorite basking spot but is still tripping and off balance as she moves. She also is only opening her eyes about halfway in between her breathing in her balled up position. The only other change in health since this started that I have noticed is the area right above her beak is more scruffy. Like she has less feathers and the area is more reddish.
I don't know if she has laid any eggs in the past 2 days (she's in a coop with other females). She is indoors so she has very limited exposure to disease/parasites. She is 2 years old now, but was perfectly healthy just 2 days prior. She has never displayed these symptoms before and I haven't seen them in any of my other birds. The only other recent change I have noticed is that lately one of my females is laying blue eggs with incredibly thin and fragile shells. She is with other females, so I can't guarantee who is laying them. Aside from egg complications or nutritional deficiencies, I don't know what the issue might be, or even how to address it. She's so small that I am limited to what I can do to help, but would be open to any advice and ideas! Thanks!
