Elderly Quail trouble...

[ashlierami]

I have a almost 6 year old male Texas A&M quail. Today he seems to be having trouble walking. He has been having trouble walking but I dismissed it for his age. He was always able to get around but he was slower than the others. Today he seems to be having the most trouble. When he walks he flaps his wings to aide in hiss balance and movement forward. He's eating and drinking and also preening his feathers as usual. Could this be arthritis? I've always felt like he has arthritis built up since he is older. He also has no signs of illness such as runny nose or anything. If this is arthritis what can I do to aide? Will it subside? Maybe this is a flare up? Also if anyone thinks he needs to be euthanized or anything to do with that please don't tell me that he is beloved and I simply couldn't handle that.

 

[wildone]

hmmm, i hope that your quail will be alright. sorry i cant give much help, as i am a first time owner of my own flock, but maybe watch what the other quail are doing. are they pecking him or bullying him? if he is really struggling, you could put him aside in a different cage, but where he could still see the others.

i could not ask you to euthanize, as i could not bear the thought of doing that to my quail, but i wish you the best of luck.

 

[ashlierami]

hmmm, i hope that your quail will be alright. sorry i cant give much help, as i am a first time owner of my own flock, but maybe watch what the other quail are doing. are they pecking him or bullying him? if he is really struggling, you could put him aside in a different cage, but where he could still see the others.

i could not ask you to euthanize, as i could not bear the thought of doing that to my quail, but i wish you the best of luck.

No he's not bullied. He's the elder and the other quail are just going on a year and a half or 2 years old. They respect him. He started having leg issues when he turned about 5 and there were no other issues besides him being slower. I assume it's arthritis or because of his age . The way he is reminds me of an elderly person that has a hard time walking and needs assistance of a cane or walker because everything else is normal for him just his legs. I've trimmed his toenails anf he's fed gamebird showbird feed as well as mealworms as a treat every so often. I also have grit out and oyster shells out for the females (which he never touches). I also add bird seed to his feed and have always done this. It's like his feet have turned inward as if he's pigeon toed. He still crows and acts as he did before just he's struggling to walk and it breaks my heart because he is beloved and I've had him Soo long.

 

[wildone]

i am trying to figure out what might be causing this. i can make a suggestion but it might not work. maybe try grinding up cat food and give him some of that in his normal feed. you might consider making him a indoor pet, and use an aquarium as a home for him. does he seems to be suffering? it could be from Vitimen deficiency. i hope he will get better.

 

[ashlierami]

i am trying to figure out what might be causing this. i can make a suggestion but it might not work. maybe try grinding up cat food and give him some of that in his normal feed. you might consider making him a indoor pet, and use an aquarium as a home for him. does he seems to be suffering? it could be from Vitimen deficiency. i hope he will get better.

Vitamin deficiency came to my mind as well. I have fed them a product called kickin chicken for years. I ran out a week ago and can't find it at the feed stores. It's packed with vitamins minerals and oils. I just pour it on their food and it's like an addition to their food. He just started showing this trouble yesterday . I'm going to try to find it today. They are indoor pets I just have 5. I have a special room that was made for them. I take them outside when the weather is nice and good temperature. He seems to get frustrated when he can't walk good and he stops for breaks but he seems completely the same other than that. The other quail I have are much younger so maybe the cage in their food didn't and won't affect them as it did him. I hope I can find it and it solves the issue. Thank you so mu ch for suggestions and feedback,!