Introduction: Injured Japanese Quail

[BbaYaga]

After a long day of class, I start my commute back home from the university. As I approach the driveway of my home, I see a brown ball dart across the driveway and into the nearby bushes on my lawn. As I parked my car, I went to go see what it was. Sure enough it was a quail, but not just any quail. A Japanese Quail (not native to my city, must have gotten out of someone’s coop)
I inspected the bird to see it had been wounded by its wings. Must have been some sort of predator (probably cats). I proceeded to call the Department of Wildlife to see what I can do for this bird. I was given a phone number to call to see if they would pick up the bird (In the end she couldn’t because of some new law in my city)
So far she has advised me to clean the injured area with alcohol & to keep the bird under a heat source (heat lamp would do the trick)
Also, I’ve given it water. My plans for this quail is to nurse it back to health and see if I can find it a home once it’s healthy and strong. Please let me know if there is anything else I can do.
Thanks in advance.

 

[Fishkeeper]

Don't use alcohol, it'll sting and can damage healthy cells. Use an antibiotic ointment, without painkiller. Like neosporin.
If a cat got it, it may have a systemic infection from the sepsis-causing bacteria that's in the saliva of all cats. Keep an eye out for signs of infection, you'd need a systemic antibiotic in that case, or to cull it.
It doesn't need a heat source, it's an adult. It just needs a relatively warm place.
What are you feeding it? A hard-boiled, mashed-up egg will work temporarily, but it's going to need gamebird feed to eat. Not seeds, actual feed.
How is it acting?
Do the wounded areas seem hot and swollen at all? They'll feel fairly warm, bird skin is thin, but they shouldn't be too hot and inflamed.
Have you put up anything like a poster to see if the owner is nearby?

 

[Ebony Rose]

It will need about one ounce of game bird feed / quail feed daily; plain chicken feed is not high enough protein to support quail. Alcohol is kind of harsh for an open wound; hydrogen peroxide ONCE to bubble out debris, then neosporin without pain meds in it daily. If you've a mind to buy some medicine for it; larvacid is great, and runs about $7 a can (bright purple tint to it though, so watch where you point that spray can and cover his face when you spray it). Plain saline to wash out that eye too, looks like he stopped at least one blow with his eye. It's impossible to tell what was attacking him as quail seem to be on the very bottom rung of the food chain, EVERYTHING loves to eat quail. Quail are easily spooked, and more so when injured, so try to move slowly when near his cage. Will also be less stressful on him if you clean his cage (slowly) at night when he's more sleepy than he is fearful. Best of luck to you and a speedy recovery for him.

 

[BbaYaga]

Right now the quail is in one place, isn’t moving much
A little peck at the floor here and there
But thanks for the advice! I’ll be sure to use neosporin and buy game feed & quail feed.
What are some signs of systemic infection in terms of the quail’s behavior?
And as for the food, the person I spoke to on the phone told me pasta would be okay for now since I don’t have any feed so I’ve give him a few mashed up pieces of pasta.
And as for posters, I went door to door to ask if they were missing a quail & none of them seem to know what I was talking about (I also live in a gated community so almost 99.9% certain the bird either came from this community or someone might’ve released it on purpose because they didn’t want to take care of it anymore)
It gets cold at night (maybe 50-66 degrees at night)

And as for the cage, I have a dog crate lying around so I’m using that and a potty pad (for dogs) for now. I’m doing the research and it seems to me that a lot of people use woodchip of some sort for substrate. So I’m probably going to get some of that too. Also person on the phone told me it’s a female so I’m the end if I don’t find a home for him/her, I’ll keep him/her for quail eggs hahaha
Thanks for the help! Let me know if I’m missing anything else.

 

[Ebony Rose]

I personally use about an inch of sand but woodchips would be less weight. Do not use cedar chips though, their respiratory system can't handle it. Signs of infection were covered by Fishkeeper's post

Keep an eye out for signs of infection, you'd need a systemic antibiotic in that case, or to cull it.
It doesn't need a heat source, it's an adult...How is it acting? Do the wounded areas seem hot and swollen at all? They'll feel fairly warm, bird skin is thin, but they shouldn't be too hot and inflamed.

50-60 degree temperatures at night is nice and balmy for quail, nothing to worry about there unless he's in a draft or wet.

Also person on the phone told me it’s a female so I’m the end if I don’t find a home for him/her, I’ll keep him/her for quail eggs hahaha

I didn't see much in the way of speckling on the chest, so it appears male to me. A female is often heavily speckled on her chest. You're sure to know in a week or two when it's feeling better; if it lays an egg... or crows (sounds like a sharp trill) then we'll have the answer to that question If it is a female, the trauma could stop it from laying for awhile, most hens won't lay if heavily stressed, and some won't lay without a mate. Quail are fickle that way.

 

[Willowspirit]

Your city may be under quarantine for Virulent Newcastle's Disease. Is that why they wouldn't pick the poor thing up? Below is a newsletter with quarantine info and what to do if the little quail gets sick.

Cdfa.ca.gov/ahfss/animal_health/newcastle_disease

 

[BbaYaga]

I personally use about an inch of sand but woodchips would be less weight. Do not use cedar chips though, their respiratory system can't handle it. Signs of infection were covered by Fishkeeper's post

50-60 degree temperatures at night is nice and balmy for quail, nothing to worry about there unless he's in a draft or wet.
I didn't see much in the way of speckling on the chest, so it appears male to me. A female is often heavily speckled on her chest. You're sure to know in a week or two when it's feeling better; if it lays an egg... or crows (sounds like a sharp trill) then we'll have the answer to that question If it is a female, the trauma could stop it from laying for awhile, most hens won't lay if heavily stressed, and some won't lay without a mate. Quail are fickle that way.

I guess we will have to see indeed!

 

[BbaYaga]

Your city may be under quarantine for Virulent Newcastle's Disease. Is that why they wouldn't pick the poor thing up? Below is a newsletter with quarantine info and what to do if the little quail gets sick.

Cdfa.ca.gov/ahfss/animal_health/newcastle_disease

You are correct on that, I am not sure what to do as well because I have also looked up reports on this disease and the county is advising that they euthanize all of the poultry birds ?

 

[BbaYaga]

***UPDATE***
I have just called animal control and they have advised me to bring the bird in for euthanasia. This is very depressing and I hope to own one of these birds one day. Thanks for all your help

 

[Willowspirit]

I am so sorry. I hope you get to own one someday very soon!