Eyeworms? In coturnix quail?

[CovidtimeQuail]

Most of my coturnix quail have an outdoor run on the ground. They love it there. So do Surinam roaches, which the quail gobble up when they show themselves. Now, I've learned that Surinam roaches carry poultry eyeworm, which sees much of its lifecycle living in chickens and other birds. These critters can cause eye irritation and even blindness in birds.

Personally, I haven't seen any eyeworms, or any signs of it. Do quail get them? If so, how could you even tell unless they're scratching their eyes?

I'm asking because I hate to take measures to limit the number of bugs (aka: free food) in the cages if I don't need to. I've read that we do have eyeworm in chicken here in Hawaii. Anyone have experience with eyeworm in quail?

 

[dawg53]

Yep, quail get them. Here's a 2018 article for you to read:
https://www.quailforever.org/BlogLanding/Blogs/Quail-Forever/Eyeworms-and-Quail.aspx

 

[CovidtimeQuail]

Yep, quail get them. Here's a 2018 article for you to read:
https://www.quailforever.org/BlogLanding/Blogs/Quail-Forever/Eyeworms-and-Quail.aspx

Thanks for this useful article. Thing is, there isn't much white to the eyes of quail, so I suspect that even if they did have them. I wouldn't know. Good to hear that it isn't considered fatal or a serious issue in wild game. I'll keep letting them eat the critters they find.

 

[dawg53]

You can see the worms "swimming" in the eyes, but it might be tough to see them clearly in a quail's eye. Anyway, IF your quail get eyeworms, treatment is a 50/50 solution of Valbazen and water. Flush the eyes with the solution. Then dose your quail orally with non-diluted Valbazen 1/4ml. Repeat dosing in 10 days.