Cutting Toenails

[Hils]

Do I need to cut quail toenails? If so, any good tips please?

 

[Nabiki]

Your best option is to give them something rough to walk on if they don't have dirt. Something like a brick or cinder block that they can wear their nails down naturally on. If this is not an option, you can trim them, but be very careful not to trim too far. Their nails are dark, so it's hard to see the quick. If you cut to far, they will bleed.

 

[Hils]

Thanks Nabiki. She was previously in the bottom of a hutch with a concrete slab floor and bedding on top. Now in hutch with lino floor and woodchip bedding with a Pumice block and taking turns on a concrete floor run, but about 10 days ago I noticed she was limping badly and I discovered the other day that she has the dreaded bumblefoot. I can only think she picked that up from being out in the run.

 

[Pandaisy]

I don't know how tame your quail is, but I put my rooster in a cut out sock when it is nail trimming time. He is really shy and doesn't hold still when I'm handling him. The sock makes it safer for both of us.

 

[FloorCandy]

Mine need to get on a brick to drink water, so this keeps their nails short.

as far as bumblefoot, that’s usually from standing in waste, or trauma from wire or flooring and then contact with waste. If she suddenly got bumblefoot, check for any high traffic areas with a lot of poop, she maybe just had a favorite spot to lie down and she and others constantly poop there.

 

[Hils]

I don't know how tame your quail is, but I put my rooster in a cut out sock when it is nail trimming time. He is really shy and doesn't hold still when I'm handling him. The sock makes it safer for both of us.

That's a great idea,! I'll give it a try. How often do you cut them?

 

[Pandaisy]

About every three months, but I check them regularly once a month.

 

[Hils]

Mine need to get on a brick to drink water, so this keeps their nails short.

as far as bumblefoot, that’s usually from standing in waste, or trauma from wire or flooring and then contact with waste. If she suddenly got bumblefoot, check for any high traffic areas with a lot of poop, she maybe just had a favorite spot to lie down and she and others constantly poop there.

There is a pumice stone breeze block in her hutch with the food on top for that very purpose and my first thought when I saw her limping was that she had fallen of it....She's in the house in a hospital cage at the mo. A bit bored...I'm playing some birdsong on you tube for her!
I'm going to post the bumblefoot on a different thread so Perhaps you'll have some tips on that.

 

[Quail friend]

Hi guys I had a indoor guy for abit and yeah nails are scratchy I ended up putting sand paper at the bottom of his sand box works a treatI like your quail in a sock!