Deformed Quail

[bradybsw]

I built an incubator from old microwave parts and had a successful hatch a few week ago. I say successful at about 75% hatch rate. One of the quail has a deformed leg and has a hard time walking but hops along pretty good and is eating and drinking. My question is weather or not it is cruel to let her keep growing. Its so ugly its cute and would hate to put her down but don't want her to suffer either.

 

[Habibs Hens]

i just put one down today with deformed legs

it was hobbling around on its anckles

it just wasnt fair to let it carry on as it was smaller than the rest

so basically just surviving

 

[TwoCrows]

I built an incubator from old microwave parts and had a successful hatch a few week ago. I say successful at about 75% hatch rate. One of the quail has a deformed leg and has a hard time walking but hops along pretty good and is eating and drinking. My question is weather or not it is cruel to let her keep growing. Its so ugly its cute and would hate to put her down but don't want her to suffer either.

That is for you to judge as to the quality of life this bird is living. If she is able to function like the others, not picked on, eats, drinks, dust bathes and acts like everybody else, then let her live her life. If she is unable to do these things and looks as if she is struggling, then it might be best to put her down.

If she is not all that bad off and want to keep her going, you could always make a house pet out of her, if she can tolerate it. She would get more attention from you and live a quieter lifestyle, perhaps extending her life. Again, that is if she can deal with living alone inside the house.

 

[wishful suburbanite]

Out of my limited experience, I have one that's slightly deformed with a curled foot and a neck that tend to be held to one side and it's about as big as the others, can flush straight up in the air like the other, eats fine. I also had one that never really managed to stand up straight on two feet, used to just kind of hop along, until one leg was splayed out and it was dragging itself and it barely managed to get around, frequently got flipped on its back, and it had a slow end. I should have just taken care of it.

Up to you, really, it can go either way.

 

[bradybsw]

Thanks for the replies. I'm not sure why I did not think of making a house pet out of her but I think I will construct an indoor cage for her this week and hope she lives a happy life.

 

[GrandmaBird]

I have a female button quail that has curled toes on one foot. She gets along just fine and I am sure she is happy as she mates and has laid eggs. Her toes were curled at hatch and the person who hatched her could have tried to straighten them but did not so I took her. It was too late to try to fix them but she is doing great.