Help urgent!! What is this?? California quail feather problem.

[Broodermy]

Hi, I had gotten my self a new pair of California quail around 5 weeks ago. Their back and tail feathers were all over the place but at first I didn't bother about them, I thought that they would fix themselves up. Now they've been more than a month together and the feathers still look horrible and almost like invaded and eathen by a pest, what is going on with them please? Bdw they arent full grown adults. Tks

 

[ValerieJ]

Hi, I had gotten my self a new pair of California quail around 5 weeks ago. Their back and tail feathers were all over the place but at first I didn't bother about them, I thought that they would fix themselves up. Now they've been more than a month together and the feathers still look horrible and almost like invaded and eathen by a pest, what is going on with them please? Bdw they arent full grown adults. Tks

If they are not molting, you need to check for mites or lice, on them and in your coop.

 

[Broodermy]

If they are not molting, you need to check for mites or lice, on them and in your coop.

Thanks so much!! I dont know if they are molting but the feathers come off pretty easily. You dont think it could be a genetic disorder if some sort right? How do I check for mites and lice please? Tks

 

[ValerieJ]

Look around the vent, under wings, pick up feathers and inspect closely. If you see something that looks like dirt, wipe it with a white cloth or paper towel, look at the cloth or towel, is anything moving? There is a red mite that lives in coops and not on the birds. You need to go out at night with a flash light to find those. Look in corners, rub a white cloth on the bottom side of the roost. If it comes out red, you have mites. there are more reliable sources of info than me, as I haven't dealt with them yet. @Folly's place is a good source on this one.

Still it looks like molting to me. You just want to be sure.

 

[Folly's place]

Lice are larger than mites, who are TINY! Little dark moving specks, and finding one or two on one bird is enough to plan on treating everyone, and the coop.
Miserable little critters!!!
Birds can die of anemia over these biting insects; happened here before I figured it out.
Permethrin spray is easiest to use.
Mary

 

[Broodermy]

Look around the vent, under wings, pick up feathers and inspect closely. If you see something that looks like dirt, wipe it with a white cloth or paper towel, look at the cloth or towel, is anything moving? There is a red mite that lives in coops and not on the birds. You need to go out at night with a flash light to find those. Look in corners, rub a white cloth on the bottom side of the roost. If it comes out red, you have mites. there are more reliable sources of info than me, as I haven't dealt with them yet. @Folly's place is a good source on this one.

Still it looks like molting to me. You just want to be sure.

Thanks so much for your help. Just gave the enclosure a clean and nothing popped up. I think you're right, it's probably just molting. I wi still keep one eye open though just in case, thanks again !!!

 

[Broodermy]

Lice are larger than mites, who are TINY! Little dark moving specks, and finding one or two on one bird is enough to plan on treating everyone, and the coop.
Miserable little critters!!!
Birds can die of anemia over these biting insects; happened here before I figured it out.
Permethrin spray is easiest to use.
Mary

Thanks so much for your kind help.

 

[sourland]

What were they fed before you got them, and what are you feeding now ?

@007Sean do you have any ideas on this ?

 

[Ntsees]

Try giving them a bucket with some dry soil. They like taking sand baths.

 

[007Sean]

Looks like over crowding to me. If you got them from a breeder? were they in too small a space for the amount of birds it contained?
Also poor nutrition can result in that feather condition. A complete and balanced feed of 24% protein should be fed. Adding omega 3 acids (fish oil, krill oil) to their diet will help improve feather quality, also the higher percentage of lysine and methionine usually found in a quality gamebird feeds will promote good feather quality.