Button Quail Ear Bleeding

[Carterborchers]

I woke up to find a bloody, scabby ear hole on one of my favorite button quail, Pinky. I washed it with warm water (accidentally removed the scab), and tried to clean the blood off, and tried to dab a little ointment. I have her in her own space now. She was living in a trio of white quail “teens” that grew together as chicks. I know there’s at least one male and one female because I’ve started finding an egg every couple of days. Not sure what the third may be…they are just around 6-7 weeks and thought maybe only one female matured so far if there’s two… or it’s a second male. I haven’t seen many breeding attempts or any fighting. I do know that when these guys peck, it’s hard!!! I held some food in my hand and let them eat from it. They seemed to bite and peck with very thick beaks.

Is this a sign of an ear infection or someone pecking at her? The day before, I noticed her head looked different…like black underneath her head feathers. I just thought her colors weren’t as white as the other two. I guess it was specs of blood. Maybe she scratched it with her foot? I’m afraid of other quail pecking at the red ear, so I have her isolated.

 

[Nabiki]

Pictures would help, but I suspect pecking.