Cut on leg, and problem with bands

[wingzrooke]

So we put little elastic leg bands on our chicks when they were about a week to a week and a half old, but we thought they'd expand a little (being elastic). Just took them off, and apparently they don't expand at all. Will my quail's legs recover their thickness? It looks kind of like someone who's been wearing a ring for a long time, the spot where the band was is smaller than outside it. Also, one of the chicks got a little knick when I cut off the band, is there a good way to prevent infection?

Worried and sorry.... Please help!

 

[cosmosue]

I’ve seen quail recover 100% from being almost completely scalped by another male. All I did was clean it, dapped a tiny bit of ointment and now you would never know. He regrew the scalp, and all the feathers.

I’ve seen curled toes completely go normal in a matter of hours.

I’ve seen a toe bent in opposite direction correct itself in 3 days.

I have also cut wings on flighty birds, and have never run into infection.

So I think he’s fine and will recover perfectly most likely. If you want you can simply clean it a little, dab it dry, put a dot of ointment and return him to the cage/brooder or whatever he’s in now.

Quail have this ability to regrow things I’ve noticed and to heal themselves - why we can’t do that I don’t know. I wish I had their super powers.

The only issue was unable to fix on a quail was a bad bad bad wry neck. It was so bad there was no coming back.

My 2 cents.

 

[le_bwah]

The spot where the band was might never be exactly the same thickness as the rest of the leg, but as long as the tendons inside are okay I don't see it hurting the birds. As for the knick, just keep it clean. Coturnix typically heal well if you give them the chance.

If you want to try banding again, you can use small zip ties. They won't stretch, so you have to put them on a little loose and change them as the birds grow.

 

[wingzrooke]

Thanks all! They seem to be doing okay, and I put on MUCH bigger bands for now, they are so big they almost don't stay on.