PLEASE HELP! Coturnix Quail have large lump/growth on toe/foot

[rouxroux]

I am new to keeping quail and I am very concerned about a lump that has developed on the foot of two of my 10 quails. See pictures. If anyone has ANY suggestions or recommendations as to what I can do to better this situation PLEASE let me know!

Thanks, Kelsey

 

[jbob]

This may be a deformity in the blood line , inbreeding . I have 16 quail and 1 has a large toe and another has a missing toe also couple have beaks that are not aligned . I found out that the breeder that I bought them from was inbreeding them . This may be why

 

[franklinstreetwest]

I had some foot problems from running them on a floor with wire that was too fine. It cut their feet....cuts got infected....became bumblefoot...decided to butcher instead of surgery on feet.

It might've gotten its toe caught on something and broken it. Or an open wound got infected.

 

[TwoCrows]

Yes that looks like an infection. See how it looks red? Is it warm to the touch?

I would be suspicious of the wire floor as Franklinstreet has just mentioned. Wire is hard on delicate feet. Make sure you offer your birds a place to get off the wire with dusting pans or some bedding in the corners. Not only a puncture can cause bumblefoot but so can bruising to the feet simply from standing on wire all day long.

I would keep this bird on some soft bedding for a few weeks. Put them all on soft bedding so you don't have to separate this one out, making it difficult to remix her in. You can apply neosporin to the bottom of the toe and look for a tiny puncture. If there is no wound then don't bother with the meds. But definitely keep them or this one off the wire for a few weeks allowing it to heal.

 

[franklinstreetwest]

I think perhaps that if the infection is staph in nature....and it looks well progressed....you may need to "operate" to remove the infection. Maybe look into "bumblefoot" on this forum. There are some great walk-throughs. STEEL yourself for some gross and graphic images!!

Personally, I butchered my birds that were effected. At the same time, I added some dust pans and changed the type of wire I used for the cage bottoms. If your quail are pets, I can understand not taking my route. If you're not into home surgery, and you are able to afford veterinary care, you could look for a vet that specializes in birds....parrots and finches.

 

[WaterfowlWierdo]

Looks like bumble foot to me. If there is a blackish scab on the bottom of the foot, peel it off and remove all of the puss in the wound. Then put neosporin in/in the hole, and wrap it for a couple days and it should heal nicely

 

[Tayten B]

the inbreeding could be but I think he cut his foot on the wire the feet with get cut up badly if they live on wire there life they will be happier and healthier bird if you get them a ground pen

 

[Fat Daddy]

Looking at the pic, The floor of the cage looks to be 1/2" hardware cloth. Hard ware cloth is made differently than other wire used for cages. It is hot dip galvanized. This makes the thinner wire corrosion resistant, but it also is one of the roughest wires on feet you will find...Lots of sharp lumps and points..... As the bird paces or runs, the wire literally grinds on the foot pads. Because the wire is too small for all the waste to drop thru, the bird steps in it. First thing you know, you start to see these problems. This is not a genetic or in breeding issue. This is a bumblefoot issue. The "sore" on the outside of bird's foot has tried to heal, but the infection still rages. The 1"x1/2" wire is a much better choice for cage floors. Not only is it smoother, but it allows waste to drop out better so there is less for the bird to walk in. You will still see these issues with any wire, but its much more common on hardware cloth floors.... TwoCrows has spent more time and effort treating bumble foot than anyone I know. She has saved birds I would have culled many times. I would ask her to walk you thru it if it were me.... Good luck, Bill

 

[rouxroux]

Thank you all for your comments. Yesterday I took them all out and put them in warm water with Epsom salt, vinegar, and hydrogen dioxide to sterilize their feet. Then I redid the wire mess flooring with the softer green coated 1/2 inch hardware cloth. It feels super soft. Bill- I wish I had read your comment before I swapped it out. I didn't realize that a bigger mess was better. Everything I've read said 1/2 inch was standard.