Moulting or sick? Feathers sticking up...

[Mhays]

This is Magenta, my favorite hen. She came to us as an adult (no idea how old) with a case of bumblefoot, which was cured.

She now seems a bit cranky (she has always been a bit of a spitfire) and has these weird feathers, but otherwise seems fine. Poops are a little watery but otherwise not unusual. (A few bubbles, but not what I'd call foamy)

Feeding Kalambachs All-natural meatbird 22%. Supplementing with pumpkin seeds and some sunflower/safflower mostly for behavior enrichment. Was giving metalwork treats but we ran out - gave some dry crickets today, which she ate (seemed miffed about replacement of her worms...but appetite normal.) Don't see any congestion, she doesn't seem sleepy. Oyster shell grit freely available in her sand bath.

I think she isn't laying (one of the four is not.)

Wire floor with straw on it that I fluff daily to make the poop drop through.

Thoughts?

We just dealy with a huge hatch of roosters last week, she is finally back to a 1:4 ratio, habitat is 8' square. Rooster is still a little overactive as a result but she isnt his favorite, and the others are smooth.

 

[Nabiki]

That doesn't look like moulting to me. It looks like someone picking at her feathers.

 

[Mhays]

Just did a closer inspection - the sticking-up feathers are a little sticky...and she has a red and irritated-looking vent. And her feet - not sure if it's the bumblefoot or just the scars from it...but I gave her an antibiotic foot soak, spray and salved them up. Then I disinfected the aviary. On the very off chance that it's some kind of mite, I put a good glob of diatomaceous earth in the sandbox.

Dr. Google suggested oral antibiotics (which I used for the foot soak) and vitamins, so I tried that...hate being scattershot, but it looks like it's more of an emergency than I thought...

Our recent rooster-palooza did upset the pecking order, so she's probably got birds picking at her - but I haven't seen it happen recently. So trying to be safe rather than sorry, and hoping I didn't go overboard...

 

[Vickischics]

Let me tag some peeps that are good at diagnostics for starters.
@LaFleche
@Eggcessive
@Wyorp Rock

 

[Mhays]

Am wondering if the swelling could also be a bound egg? She (I think) hasn't been laying normally.

ETA: she's pooping a lot (all quails seem to poop a lot to mee) of various firmnesses (they had some lettuce yesterday, so I was assuming runny poops were because of that) and there is no vent prolapse, it's just bald (more than usual) and swollen and red.

And thank you.

 

[Vickischics]

Am wondering if the swelling could also be a bound egg? She (I think) hasn't been laying normally.

ETA: she's pooping a lot (all quails seem to poop a lot to mee) of various firmnesses (they had some lettuce yesterday, so I was assuming runny poops were because of that) and there is no vent prolapse, it's just bald (more than usual) and swollen and red.

And thank you.

Post "Poop" pictures. Or a video of her behavior also helps.

 

[Vickischics]

@casportpony

 

[Mhays]

Here is some poop, she pooped four times in quick succession: the first two were kined of more normal, if a little more watery than usual, and then there were these green poops, and then the super watery one a bit later. I do have plants in their aviary that they reguelarly graze on, so although they normally have the light brown and white, I assume these greenish ones are due to food?

I am kind of inclined that she's molting but might have something else going on. I have treated this one for bumblefoot before and those scars look enlarged so I'm going to treat again. Also put diatomaceous earth in their sandbox and sprayed the catch tray under the wire floor for mites

 

[Nabiki]

Those don't look too bad. I really think that her diet isn't appropriate for a quail, though. That's going to contribute to digestive issues.

 

[Mhays]

Those don't look too bad. I really think that her diet isn't appropriate for a quail, though. That's going to contribute to digestive issues.

22% protein feed plus dried mealworms (trying to switch to crickets and grasshoppers but they're not as interested) is not sufficient? The greens are just for enrichment, I just replaced them this afternoon so they had more to pick at today. Is it the protein or the brand or something else?