Quail Chick Falling Over (possibly after some trauma)

[NerdyBirdy]

I got a phone call from my bf today that one of the quail chicks (they're about 3 weeks now) got out of the cage and the wing looked hurt. He put it back into the cage and when I got home I took him out to give him a once over. His right wing does have a slight droop, but he will use it. What concerns me is his walking. Although when I had him in hand I didn't notice any swellings or things out of place, the chick will only take 2 or 3 steps before falling forward. He's eating and drinking with the rest of his siblings and looks pretty alert, but also won't stand almost at all. Any thoughts?

V.

 

[Nichrome]

Is he walking of not? Limping? Or is a foot kind of slipping from beneath him?

 

[NerdyBirdy]

Found the solution: I noticed he was pecking frantically at his "injured" leg a few minutes ago and so I picked him up again to see what was going on. It turns out while he was wandering around our apartment he picked up a dust bunny that wrapped part of itself high on his leg and was tucked under his wing! I was able to remove it and he's been doing a lot better.

Before the discovery, he would spend a lot of time just sitting and then take a couple hop steps every once in a while before face planting. I'm glad he wasn't hurt, but I think he still might be a little sore.

V.