Help! My coturnix are dying.

[Champion]

The ones that are dying are in large cages 10x2x2. I raised the other 40 that are on pine from chicks but purchased the 100+ cots from someone. They all eat the same feed (non medicated) and drink the same water. I had 15 adult quail in the cages that I put the 100 in for about a week and there was no problems. It's only the new quail that are dying

I'm almost certain it's some sort of disease, I'm going to try and find some bacitracin tomorrow and maybe save the few I have left I talked to the person I purchased them from and he said he never had more than 1 or 2 a week die (that seems wierd to even have that many die on a regular basis to me) and that he would refund me my money. This whole situation has really gotten me down.

 

[Champion]

About 10 more dead today. I found some bacitracin at a local store for about $30 and mixed it in with their water. Hopefully this helps.

 

[orumpoultry]

What do they look like when you find them? I think I've read that you watched them, right? No signs then BLAMMO dead birds?

If you haven't already, I would be getting my money back from this guy. It sounds like his over crowding issue has put disease into his flock and you're getting the crack end of it.

 

[Champion]

What do they look like when you find them? I think I've read that you watched them, right? No signs then BLAMMO dead birds?

If you haven't already, I would be getting my money back from this guy. It sounds like his over crowding issue has put disease into his flock and you're getting the crack end of it.

They just stop moving then they fall over and die. Sometimes they shook a little first right before they died.

 

[dc3085]

Does the breeder you purchased them from keep chickens or other poultry?

Was there any response to the bacitracin after a couple days of treatment?

What is the substrate of the of cage where birds are dying? Is it dirt?

If you have any healthy birds left in that group try to get them over a wire floor to slow transmission.

 

[Champion]

Does the breeder you purchased them from keep chickens or other poultry?
Yes they keep chickens.
Was there any response to the bacitracin after a couple days of treatment?
I just started it yesterday.
What is the substrate of the of cage where birds are dying? Is it dirt?
Wire cages about 4 feet off the ground.
If you have any healthy birds left in that group try to get them over a wire floor to slow transmission. 

 

[ChickenLegs13]

I'm rather simple minded and tend to see simple solutions. It appears overcrowding is the problem. 100 six month old quail (probably like 50 roosters & 50 hens) in a 10x2 cage is waaaay too many. That's 20 sq ft which is only good for about half that number of birds, and that's with a proper ratio of around 1 rooster for every 5 hens and that's really pushing it. They probably spend all day jumping up & down and bouncing off the walls chasing each other all over the cage fighting & mating (loss of feathers) instead of eating and the constant stress & chaos is killing them.
I can pack young quail in like sardines but if I keep them more than 8-10 weeks I have to start thinning the herd to restore peace because as they reach maturity they become agressive. I always start with the roosters.
Another thing, 6 month old quail do not need heat lamps, so you may be overheating them and the constant light may be causing violence.
I'm not ruling out sickness, mites or worms but I can't see that over the internet.

 

[Champion]

I'm rather simple minded and tend to see simple solutions. It appears overcrowding is the problem. 100 six month old quail (probably like 50 roosters & 50 hens) in a 10x2 cage is waaaay too many. That's 20 sq ft which is only good for about half that number of birds, and that's with a proper ratio of around 1 rooster for every 5 hens and that's really pushing it. They probably spend all day jumping up & down and bouncing off the walls chasing each other all over the cage fighting & mating (loss of feathers) instead of eating and the constant stress & chaos is killing them.
I can pack young quail in like sardines but if I keep them more than 8-10 weeks I have to start thinning the herd to restore peace because as they reach maturity they become agressive. I always start with the roosters.
Another thing, 6 month old quail do not need heat lamps, so you may be overheating them and the constant light may be causing violence.
I'm not ruling out sickness, mites or worms but I can't see that over the internet.

They were in 2 10x2x2 cages. I only had 1 dead one this morning after giving them the bacitracin. They were already missing their feathers when I bought them. And the heat lamps are mostly directed at their automatic waterer to keep it from freezing.

 

[Champion]

Update No dead birds today! I think it's finally over. Also I had my first chicks hatch out!

 

[ChickenLegs13]

I'm not sure how many birds you have in each of the 10x2 cages but it sounds like a lot for mature quail, even if they are divided evenly between the 2 cages.
Feather loss-did you inspect for lice & mites?
You said you had 15 previous birds in the same cages-that could point to some kind of disease being left if you didn't clean the cages before stocking with the new birds.
You also said the PO had chickens and frequent quail deaths-that points to a bigger red flag.
Least the seller offered to refund your $$$.
Hope you got it figured out and that your new hatch chicks don't catch whatever it was.