Dead Quail, no obvious COD?

[nayeli]

I know quail can easily break their necks but this one didn't have a broken neck, no visable wounds, it was just dead? Any ideas?

 

[dc3085]

I know quail can easily break their necks but this one didn't have a broken neck, no visable wounds, it was just dead? Any ideas?

If its a hen check its vent to see if its blown out or egg bound. You can also cut it open and dissect the esophagus and stomach to look for things like worms or lesions that can give you a potential. Does she look to have lost weight recently? If you are concerned about the rest of your birds you can usually get a necropsy from the state but for gamebirds there is usually a fee.

Also sometimes they just die. They are just as likely as any other animal to die from a bad heart or such. I was outside a couple months ago and what appeared to be a healthy hen started thrashing around and was dead on her feet before I crossed the yard.

Edited for spelling

 

[TwoCrows]

X2

Sometimes the only way to know what they died of is from a necropsy. Birds can die from so many things. Unless you can find symptoms, you may never know. Sudden death from otherwise healthy birds many times is caused from heart attacks. Actually more common than you would think. Birds can even have strokes.

Sorry about your bird.

 

[nayeli]

Thanks guys, and no no dissecting dead animals for me. I don't think she was egg bound she seemed smaller than the rest.