Constipated quail

[My26cluck]

Can anyone offer advice? I have a gambles quail hen who has just begun, yesterday, pumping her tail to poop and then still sits with her tail pumping. She's begun to look more fluffed today. Who has some tips on what I can do for her? She's 7 months old and the others seem very healthy.

 

[Nabiki]

She sounds like she might be egg bound, but it's hard to say for certain. Has she gotten enough calcium? Can you feel an egg stuck near her vent? Is she eating and drinking?

If she is egg bound, you can give her a warm (about quail body temp or a tiny bit warmer) epsom salt bath and use a bit of plain vaseline or something around and just inside her vent to help it out. It is important to get this taken care of as soon as possible if she is egg bound, since it can be lethal.

If you're not sure, is a vet an option?

 

[Quailobsessed]

Welcome to BYC!

Without seeing it for myself, it's hard to know, but it could also be a hormonal behaviour. If she's fluffed up/stressed though, it's more likely to be because she's egg bound. Has she laid recently? If so, do you know when her last egg was?