Mystery Quail Death!

[Stellar]

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[Birdman18]

Thank you guys so much!!

Yes I understand it is difficult sometimes to figure out what caused death to happen. I do my best to take very good care of all my birds and that's what matters each day, I only want the best for them. That's why one of the things I've done is to add some vitamins to their water each time I give them clean water, the vitamins are suppose to keep them healthier in the long run, which is a good thing for them.

All the information and advice you guys have provided has been very helpful and I'm sure as long as I follow it I hope to see less problems.
I will keep reading the stickies and different posts, the more information I can get the more I will learn for the future.
I only wish to get better at raising and keeping birds, and I'm sure being in this forum I will.


Thanks Again Everyone!!, Don't know how I would get through this without all your help

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Your help is greatly appreciated!

 

[Birdman18]

Hi,
This past week I went back to visit the Gamebird Farm, and wanted to get 5 bobwhite quails and ended up buying 8 quails!

I couldn't stop getting those quails. The man was very nice and let me go in the flight pen to get the quails. Last time was my first time ever in a flight pen with quails and it felt so amazing especially when all those quails would go burst into air as they flew over my head, its so exciting to see them all running around the flight pen. One of the guys there at the farm was surprised I caught the birds with my bare hands, didn't even need a net, plus I think a net might actually hurt them a little. One day I'll build a nice flight pen like that, its great to be able to walk into where the birds are. I can't get enough of that farm its so amazing!!

Now I have all the Quails in my pen with more room where I had a pair of Pheasants a few months back. I added lots and lots of sand and gravel to the floor of the pen, now they have plenty of grit and also for taking dust baths. I know I have 4 males and 5 females, thats why I bought a few extra in case something happens. I started to cover the pen up to protect them from the cold and rain, with tarp attached on the top of their pen. I'm going to add another layer or so of plastic or tarp just to make sure no water gets in the pen. I have another area of the pen I'm going to leave uncovered in case they want the rain.
I did find a higher protein feed for them I bought at Tractor Supply its 24% protein and its a Gamebird/Showbird Feed and got a nice 1 gallon waterer for them. As long as the quails are all happy I'll be happy too.
But I think they should all be fine for the most part, hopefully!

Thanks guys for all your help!!

I now have a better understanding with raising these quails and couldn't be happier.


I'll get some pictures of them and the pen soon!

 

[TwoCrows]

You mentioned they were in a flight pen. Have they been wormed recently? I read thru this entire thread and you mentioned that the original male died. If there were no injuries to the bird from the female, no night time critters got to him, than is it something internal or external, or he boinked his head on the ceiling. I do not believe that a 22 % protein diet will kill a Bobwhite. I have had my bobs on protein percents from 18% to 28% depending on where I can find feed out here in the boonies. So I do not believe that the feed killed your bird.

So make sure these new birds are wormed. If they have not been wormed by the quail farm where you got them, I would go ahead and worm them. Worms will suck the life out of bird very quickly. Check them over for mites also. Bugs can also suck the life out of a bird. Dust them or spray them with permethrin spray once a week for a few weeks. Give them a dust bath area. Bobs need to dust bathe daily to keep the mites down.

These things are the most common reasons that quail die. Worms and mites. Buy the best feed you can find. Get them grit for their gizzards and it is ok to feed them bird seed as long as you have grit. They love all kinds of greens, peas, apples, fruits and of course meal worms.

You sound excited and I am so happy for you! I remember the first day I brought home my first Bobs. I was so excited!! So enjoy your new birds and keep us posted!

 

[chickbird]

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i'd stop the vitamins everyday, i had a commercial grower to tell me that cleanliness with quail can not be emphasized enough, keep the sand in there everyday, is it too cold for your birds in the structure you have? how old are the quail? just some things to consider and it may have been some type of disease.

 

[Birdman18]

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Thanks chickbird for replying!!

twocrowsranch,
Not sure if these quails were wormed in the farm. But the man at the farm was always talking about how important it is to get all the animals wormed to protect them, so I think the quails might be wormed. Yeah I'm thinking something internal might of killed the original male or it could have been another issue.
I've never wormed birds before, I was looking where to buy some for the birds I know places online sell them. The quails have a lot of sand all over the pen, would they still need to be wormed even though they will dust themselves?
Their all doing pretty good so far, eating like crazy I check on them twice a day and each time I have to give them more feed because the feeder is always empty when I visit them. They sure have a lot of energy in them.
I'm going to put more plastic around and on top of their pen for Winter, so they can be protected from the snow, wind and ice for the Winter months.

Thanks Again!

 

[TwoCrows]

Worming for internal worms is different from external mites. The dust you offer them will help take care of any external bugs. As far as internal worms, that you will need meds for. I would ask the farm that you got them from if they have recently been wormed. (Some folks talk about what is right to do, but don't do it themselves.)

You could always take in a fecal sample to your vet. Easy to do. They will check under microscope to see it they have worms or not.

Make sure to keep them out of wind, snow and rain this winter. You might want to add a shelter inside their pen that has a solid floor with bedding so that they can get off the wire. Quail lose heat thru their feet. Put in some grass hay or wood shavings to snuggle into.

But glad that your new babies are doing well, and good luck in your quail ventures!!

 

[Birdman18]

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Oh ok, didn't really know the worms were internal. I'll see if I could ask the man if they were wormed, I'm going to see if I can get the meds. online if I have to worm the birds. Or maybe a local pet store will carry the meds for that. Even if they were wormed how often do you have to worm them or in other words how long does the meds work for?
Yep, I'm going to cover the pen really well this weekend for the Winter. For the shelter I'm thinking of putting some logs or branches in their pen with lots of straw on the bottom so its nice and cozy for them. I'm sure they'll like it with all that straw.

Thanks for all your help, Its very much appreciated!!

 

[TwoCrows]

I use Wazine every 6 months. It is a liquid that is put in the water for one full day. Now, it doesn't kill every worm they may have, however it does kill the most common worms quail get and that is Round Worms. If you feel they are really infested, you can also use Safe-Guard Equine wormer 2 weeks after the Wazine. It is best to start with the Wazine first as if they have tons of worms, the Wazine, being that it only takes care of the round worms, won't over load the birds with dead and dying worms which releases too many toxins in the body all at once. So start with the Wazine first.

You can get Wazine at some feed stores or on line. Amazon carries it I think. Other poultry supply houses have it. Worming is well worth doing. It is easy to do and will save your birds lives. All birds have worms and worms will kill them over time. The Safe-Guard can be purchased at any feed store, even wal-mart. Good luck!

 

[Birdman18]

Thanks twocrowsranch!

Yes I'm going to order some Wazine for them, you never know if they have worms or not. Better to be safe than sorry.
You could use Wazine for other birds like Doves too, right?