Button quail face swollen

[Big Button]

Please help! I have just come back from vacation (I had someone taking care of my birds while I was away) and I come back to one of my hens who now has a very swollen side of her face. Only one side. I took a picture of both sides so you can see the difference. I have seen her make this weird kind of sneeze where she shook her head and exhaled through her nose. I put a few drops of Vetericyn eye wash on her eye to hopefully help ease her discomfort. What do you think her problem is? Thank you so much!


Her history: I bought two hens from a pet store a few years ago. (never doing that again, they must have been inbred or something because they have feathers that never grow back) All my other buttons don't have issues like these two hens do. The other hen I bought has a crooked beak so I have to mix her food every morning with water just so she can eat. Poor things.

 

[PirateGirl]

That part of the face below the eye is connected with the sinuses. You also mentioned a sneeze. Those two things point to some sort of potential respiratory infection. (no fault of your pet sitter, so be kind to her) A warm compress (just warm water on a washcloth) may help the swelling and help clear the sinus blockage (think when you have a really stuffy nose and how a warm shower might help you breathe). It won't cure any illness though. Sometimes it's not sickness and there is something lodged in there, think seed. I have never treated illness in quails, so hopefully someone with quail experience will chime in. Nor am I sure about medication, but while you wait for more advice, a warm compress may help your lil bird feel a bit more comfortable.

 

[Big Button]

Thank you so much PirateGirl! I will try the warm towel on her and see if that helps.

 

[bhaugh]

I would separate her from the others. This could be IR or something like and is contagious.

 

[Big Button]

I would separate her from the others. This could be IR or something like and is contagious.

Thank you bhaugh. I have her separated and I saw the vet 5 days ago. She gave her some antibiotics and an anti- inflammatory. I have been giving her twice of each daily. The vet also put a drop of something on her jugular vein area to kill possible lung mites. I am starting to see new feathers growing! She is doing so much better now.