Please advise =( 3 wk old quail struggling to walk. Can i help? Prognosis?

[lauradrake21]

I had a Coturnix youngster in the brooder that sat a lot. One if its legs would not straighten out. It would shuffle over to the water, then shuffle over to the food, spending the day with it's head in the feeder. As it grew older, both knee joints swelled up. I left her in the brooder when her litter mates graduated, and the next batch of week-olds moved in. When it came time for Freezer Camp, she was only half the weight of her litter mates and did not have any sign of maturity in her reproductive organs. My experiment showed me that it is best to cull early. The situation does not improve.

Do you think the swollen joints were from lack of proper motion? Both legs work, but it is like his body is tilted forward and he can't pick it up, otherwise he would be able to walk, albeit with a waddle like a duck. His weight seems ok, he is growing and is about 4/5ths the size of his litter mates. They have two weeks til they are due to go outside...

 

[lauradrake21]

We put him to sleep today. Very sad but right thing for him. There was clearly no improving his outlook. A little quail who can't walk or fly is not fair. To be honest I feel much calmer too just having 6 strong healthy quail to look out for. Thanks to everyone for advice. X

 

[GeneP]

Quote: No, the knee joints were swollen like a bad case of RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS. Maybe she had a bad set of genes.

 

[313759]

I have never culled either, either the birds die on their own or they get too sick then we... chop their heads off... I hate doing it that way when there is an easier way

 

[lauradrake21]

Well apart from euthanising at the local vets, we had to do the old 'tug and tear'.. it was very sad but i have no regrets as he was never going to lead a full life. He probably would have gone on, eating, drinking and shuffling around, but would not have been as happy. Anyway, i dont want to think about him anymore as it makes me too sad to think of his little struggles when he was such a sweetie.

 

[TwoCrows]

Well apart from euthanising at the local vets, we had to do the old 'tug and tear'.. it was very sad but i have no regrets as he was never going to lead a full life. He probably would have gone on, eating, drinking and shuffling around, but would not have been as happy. Anyway, i dont want to think about him anymore as it makes me too sad to think of his little struggles when he was such a sweetie.

I am so sorry for your loss.

It is never easy to lose them.

 

[lauradrake21]

I am so sorry for your loss.

It is never easy to lose them.

Thanks TwoCrows