Lime Green Poop! Coturnix Quail! Help!

[4 Georgia Hens]

Hello everyone! Today I noticed that one of my 4 Coturnix quail is staying puffed up in a corner of the coop. While I watched her, she pooped a very unusual poop. She is approximately 7 weeks old. I don’t know what’s going on. What do y’all think?

 

[Kiki]

What exactly do you feed them?

eta...Are these new to you birds?
How long have you had them?
And is a vet an option?

 

[4 Georgia Hens]

What exactly do you feed them?

eta...Are these new to you birds?
How long have you had them?
And is a vet an option?

I feed them a 24% grower feed. We have had them for 5 weeks. I could find a vet, but I don’t think that I can drop tons of money right now. She will occasionally leave the corner and is no longer all puffed up.

 

[Ebony Rose]

I feed them a 24% grower feed. We have had them for 5 weeks. I could find a vet, but I don’t think that I can drop tons of money right now. She will occasionally leave the corner and is no longer all puffed up.

Grower for chickens or for game birds? Chicken feed won't cut it over the long haul (if you plan to breed them for eggs), but if your goal is to simply get them to weight and process them for the freezer, then it'll do. I'm guessing you bought them in their first week of life, making them almost adult to adult, so that could have been an ugly something happening in the young girls' reproductive tract. Keep an eye on her, if she starts puffing up again, kind of droopy wings, head hanging or tucked into her feathers, then I'd suggest antibiotics. If you're forced down that road, discard the eggs for the recommended time after her last dose of medicine, typically 7 to 14 days, depending on the medicine, your feed store / veterinary pharmacy can advise you on the correct withholding time. I'll keep you and your feathered family in my prayers.

 

[Kiki]

This poop can mean any one of a number of things including worms and a bacterial infection. I highly recommend calling a few bets and asking them if they will at least run a fecal float test on some fresh poop if you brought it in in a dish, without seeing the bird.

My vet does this for less than $20. Phone calls are free.