Quail can’t peck properly and seems sick.

[ARandomChickenLover]

Hello so I had gotten 4 quail from someone and I took them home and they seemed healthy but a bit scared of me, now 4-5 weeks later I have them they are happy and trust me they all seem good except for one quail in the past this quail has not pecked straight or accurately (have tried giving it treats:worm,beetles,…) and it would try to eat it but would peck to the left or right of its target and would keep trying, and miss. So I would put a pretty biggish dog bowl in there with food and they all seem to eat fine even for the one that can’t peck accurately since there is plenty of space in case it misses. Anyways now the quail not only can’t peck accurately but has had its feathers puffed, eyes squinted, and crouches. I’m not sure if it’s sick since we’ve had her or if it’s because of the cold (low-40F°, High-60F°) even if it was the cold I’ve had a heat lamp out there and they would cuddle in I the heat throughout the night. I’m just curious if there is a way to help her because she seems weak, and if there is a way to help the pecking problem.


I have noticed she gets super happy when there is food

Here is a photo of her:

 

[Eggcessive]

I would try to offer her some wet feed, and help her eat and drink for a few days. Do you see anything wrong in her eyes, any drainage, bubbles, etc. It sounds like she cannot see well. You might try rinsing her eyes with saline or eye wash.

 

[vall]

If her eyes look normal guessing she is partially blind. I feed crumble exclusively, normally I would suggest that but with her condition I don't know if pellets or crumble would be better. Is she the same size as the others?

Those temps are fine for quail. Does her poop look normal? Are there a lot of feathers in the pen?

 

[ARandomChickenLover]

I would try to offer her some wet feed, and help her eat and drink for a few days. Do you see anything wrong in her eyes, any drainage, bubbles, etc. It sounds like she cannot see well. You might try rinsing her eyes with saline or eye wash.

Okay, thank you, I’ve gotten her used to be able to find where to eat and drink and she know her way around the coop now but it’s just she isn’t accurate like sometimes I catch her pecking dirt or their poop so that’s why I put hay to stop her. Where would I be able to get wet food? Is it like wet quail food? Or what is it called?

 

[ARandomChickenLover]

I would try to offer her some wet feed, and help her eat and drink for a few days. Do you see anything wrong in her eyes, any drainage, bubbles, etc. It sounds like she cannot see well. You might try rinsing her eyes with saline or eye wash.

I’m at school right now but I will check I haven’t checked so I’m not sure.

 

[ARandomChickenLover]

If her eyes look normal guessing she is partially blind. I feed crumble exclusively, normally I would suggest that but with her condition I don't know if pellets or crumble would be better. Is she the same size as the others?

Those temps are fine for quail. Does her poop look normal? Are there a lot of feathers in the pen?

Okay I used to feed crumble we ran out and are feeding pellets but might buy crumble again since I am incubating chicken eggs and they are very close to hatch day. So I will just mix both maybe?

Okay thank you I didn’t know since this is my first time. I haven’t checked should I separate her and monitor her more closely? Yesterday when I checked there were feathers where the heat lamp area is, I will show a photo after school.

 

[Eggcessive]

I really don’t know if quail can eat pellets, since I am mor familiar with chickens. But crumbles probably would be best. To make wet feed, with either pellets or crumbles you can add some water to a small bowl of feed, and mix it into an oatmeal consistency Most birds like that.

 

[Tolkienfanatic03]

Try giving him/her a little bit of colloidal silver if you have any. My quail had the same problem and the colloidal silver seemed like it helped. What my quail got was highly contagious, so if you don’t already have it separated it would probably be a good idea.

 

[vall]

If you see feathers around she might be molting, not sick. I wouldn't separate unless you're positive it's illness since it's stressful. But do get a look at her poop to confirm. And if her condition coincided with the switch from crumble to pellets I'd definitely switch back.

 

[ARandomChickenLover]

If you see feathers around she might be molting, not sick. I wouldn't separate unless you're positive it's illness since it's stressful. But do get a look at her poop to confirm. And if her condition coincided with the switch from crumble to pellets I'd definitely switch back.

Okay thank you I will definitely take a look, I don’t think it’s the food since when I got her she had seemed weak and kind of skinny but either way I would prefer them eating crumble since they don’t have to struggle much even though they eat the pellets fine. Thank you.