Periodically Losing Quail

[Bigfishbobby]

It seems this winter was rough on my flock of quail. I started with about 18. I’m down to around 12 now. It started with one or two that just seemed to get sick, sit around, ruffle up, close their eyes and die. I started to suspect that even though they had an enclosed coop like shelter and quality feed that it was just too cold for them. I found it odd they didn’t use the coop much. I added a heater and that changed. Now everyone seems to love the coop.

Last night I checked on everyone and they were fine. This morning I go out and there is a hen sitting in the coop panting hard, sitting with ruffled feathers and eyes closed. She last about an hour and died. I have zero ideas why. Since adding the heat, everyone looks so much better. They had a ragged look before that but now they all look great. I HATE losing birds and just want to do all I can to give them a good life. We do eat the eggs and eventually will eat the birds too, but I’d rather give them a good life and then dictate that without feeling like I am somehow inadvertently killing them. We had a rough winter by our standards, but it’s been warmer recently with nights in the high 20’s and low 30’s.

 

[Bigfishbobby]

Just lost a second hen today. Makes no sense. Whatever is killing them is doing so VERY FAST.

 

[Bigfishbobby]

@Nabiki

 

[Nabiki]

Are the hens laying?
Does their poop look normal?
What are you feeding them?
Are they eating and drinking normally?
Do they have small shelters to hide in?
Are they dry?
Are they out of the wind?
Are they showing any other symptoms?

 

[Bigfishbobby]

Are the hens laying?
Does their poop look normal?
What are you feeding them?
Are they eating and drinking normally?
Do they have small shelters to hide in?
Are they dry?
Are they out of the wind?
Are they showing any other symptoms?

Hens haven’t laid all winter. I added a few hours of artificial light about 2 weeks ago and only got 1 egg a day for about the past week. Before that there were no eggs since it got cold. Poop looks normal. I’ve changed food a couple times over the last 6 months trying to find a better feed. Lately it has been a 20% protein that had higher calcium. They are definitely drinking normally. I don’t really think eating is an issue either. It’s hard to tell because my numbers have been decreasing slowly too. They all look healthy and aren’t losing weight. There are 11 left, they have a 2x2 fully enclosed coop (except a small door) with sand floor and a hanging heater panel set at 160 degrees. They seem to love it in the cold and all huddle under it. The open part of the run is 2x5 with two waterers that I change twice a day when it’s cold, once a day when it doesn’t freeze. They are always dry. They have a place to get out of the wind, but if they sit outside in the wind that’s not something I have tried to control. No other symptoms that I’ve seen. Today has been so weird because it seems to be coming on very quick and it’s over. I checked the second one tonight for mites and found nothing.

 

[Bigfishbobby]

 

[Goosebaby]

Quail aren’t always very smart, if they don’t know when to get out of the wind you need to make that choice for them. I would try to insulate that coop better, probably add a tarp over it to block cold air.

 

[Nabiki]

I would suggest insulating the bottom with straw. They lose a lot of heat if they can't keep their feet warm, and quail aren't always smart enough to come in out of the cold.

Make it deep enough that they can bury themselves in it. I would also add some small boxes that they can shelter in. A tarp would also be a good idea to keep the wind out.

 

[Bigfishbobby]

Thank you all for the help.

 

[Nabiki]

Let us know if our suggestions help.