Follow up to my quail fighting

[J_J_max]

A few days ago my quail were fighting and I found the other fighter

Unfortunately she had lost about half of her top beak, but not broken off at the nostrils like the boy I had to cull. Her wound is healed, but I'm worried about her eating. I think our food is too big for her to eat easily. Below is a picture of her and her food. We felt her chest and she seems like she is getting some food.

My dad says he won't "make accommodations" for her or she won't live through winter. (the thing is that they're my quail, so shouldn't I make the decision? anyways...) Any tips? How can I give her food easier?

(EDIT: Her name is Karen. I've made her a wet mash. Other tips still appreciated though!)

 

[Fur-N-Fowl]

Aw poor girl

At least she's still eating though and you've sorted out the fights. Quail are worse to house together than chickens in my opinion after owning both. Despite that, they're great little birds!

What I could suggest is leaving the hard pellets in the cage but also providing a dish with soaked/mashed pellets in. It will make it easier for her to peck.

Another alternative is just buying crumbles instead or making your own crumbles by crushing the pellets.

If giving veg and fruits, just make sure to mash or cut them small enough for her.

As long as she is eating and drinking, she should be fine!

 

[Squishychicken]

Chickens and many poultry have been fine missing there too beak. I'd soften the feed with water into a mash and if she still cant eat then wet it and blend it up and syring it onto her bottom beak so she can swallow it. Just make sure her crop is full overnight and monitor her feed and water intake. Agreed with above and long as shes eating and drinking it should be fine no special accommodations needed

 

[CluckNDoodle]

I was just about to suggest wet mash as well! This is also what is recommended for crossbeaks.

 

[702Quails]

Get a turkey starter mash for feed. It should only be around $15 a bag. It'll be easier for them to eat and they won't waste nearly as much. It looks like they're wasting a vast majority of the feed they have now.

 

[J_J_max]

Chickens and many poultry have been fine missing there too beak. I'd soften the feed with water into a mash and if she still cant eat then wet it and blend it up and syring it onto her bottom beak so she can swallow it. Just make sure her crop is full overnight and monitor her feed and water intake. Agreed with above and long as shes eating and drinking it should be fine no special accommodations needed

Aw poor girl

At least she's still eating though and you've sorted out the fights. Quail are worse to house together than chickens in my opinion after owning both. Despite that, they're great little birds!

What I could suggest is leaving the hard pellets in the cage but also providing a dish with soaked/mashed pellets in. It will make it easier for her to peck.

Another alternative is just buying crumbles instead or making your own crumbles by crushing the pellets.

If giving veg and fruits, just make sure to mash or cut them small enough for her.

As long as she is eating and drinking, she should be fine!

I've made a wet-ish mash/crumble, thanks!

 

[J_J_max]

How can I give her food easier?

Good news! I just checked on her and she seems to be eating like a monster! Thank you everyone. Now my little K should be okay until I get crumble instead of pellets.

 

[Helloworld]

Pellets are too big. You need game bird crumble. Also, rule here is 5-7 hens per roo.
Less and you run into cannibalism