Quail chick is squawking!

[jsheepdog]

Hi, I'm fairly new to raising quails. I have 2 chicks and one has started to squawk every now and then at 10 days old. It seems like it's sneezing or having the hiccups. I hear it squawk every time it shakes its head. It's been a few days now. Is this normal??

 

[TwoCrows]

How is the chick acting otherwise? Is it eating and drinking well? Running around with the others? Sneezing is ok if it is dry sneezing. It may be dusty in the brooder. But if the sneeze is wet and the bird is constantly sneezing wet, then their could be an issue. If the chick seems quite healthy, but is sneezing dry, it could be dust from the shavings. If the chick is acting sickly and sneezing wet, it may have a bacterial infection to which you might use some antibiotics.

As for the constant peeping...if he seems healthy enough, chicks will peep a lot as babies. Some babies that are sick will peep as well. So you need to determine if this baby is sick or not. Chances are, if he has a bacterial infection, so do the rest of them.

 

[jsheepdog]

How is the chick acting otherwise? Is it eating and drinking well? Running around with the others? Sneezing is ok if it is dry sneezing. It may be dusty in the brooder. But if the sneeze is wet and the bird is constantly sneezing wet, then their could be an issue. If the chick seems quite healthy, but is sneezing dry, it could be dust from the shavings. If the chick is acting sickly and sneezing wet, it may have a bacterial infection to which you might use some antibiotics.

As for the constant peeping...if he seems healthy enough, chicks will peep a lot as babies. Some babies that are sick will peep as well. So you need to determine if this baby is sick or not. Chances are, if he has a bacterial infection, so do the rest of them.

The chick is otherwise well and active. Similar to the other chick. The sneezing seems dry but it occurs quite frequently throughout the day. For bedding, I'm using paper towels and it gets changed daily. It used to peep like the other chick but now it's just making this squawk-like sounds. I'm wondering if the chick feed has been grounded too finely which is causing the irritation? :/ I've since mixed in the bigger crumbs...but it's still sneezing. I've taken a video, appreciate your advice!

 

[TwoCrows]

Wow, everybody should post a video of their birds for better diagnosis. LOL

It looks like the chick is coughing. Like it is possibly inhaling the crushed powdery food. At this age, they do not need the feed to be crushed anymore. Crushing food is only for tiny babies. So you can feed it whole to them. (see, you already had it figured out.)

Keep an eye on him however to see if he develops anything suspicious. Keep us posted.

 

[jsheepdog]

Here's another video of the chicks in their brooder.

 

[TwoCrows]

Now that looks like sneezing.

Is there any discharge from the nostrils? Or is it dry? You might want to start them on some antibiotics just to be safe. Chicks shouldn't be sneezing and coughing so much. Something like Duramycin in the water for 7-10 days might help. It can't hurt and you can then rule out any bacterial infection. At this age, bacteria and virus's can kill them. They don't yet have a fully developed immune system.

 

[TwoCrows]

Oh, also. Don't use cedar shavings. Horrible on the respiratory system of birds. Pine shavings only.

 

[jsheepdog]

Wow, everybody should post a video of their birds for better diagnosis. LOL

It looks like the chick is coughing. Like it is possibly inhaling the crushed powdery food. At this age, they do not need the feed to be crushed anymore. Crushing food is only for tiny babies. So you can feed it whole to them. (see, you already had it figured out.)

Keep an eye on him however to see if he develops anything suspicious. Keep us posted.

Haha...yea figured it would be better to just take a video for the more experienced to analyse! So it's coughing!! Ok, got it. No more crushed food.

Thanks soooo much! Really appreciate the community here

 

[jsheepdog]

Now that looks like sneezing.

Is there any discharge from the nostrils? Or is it dry? You might want to start them on some antibiotics just to be safe. Chicks shouldn't be sneezing and coughing so much. Something like Duramycin in the water for 7-10 days might help. It can't hurt and you can then rule out any bacterial infection. At this age, bacteria and virus's can kill them. They don't yet have a fully developed immune system.

:-E eeps!

No discharge from nostrils. Will keep monitoring and will also check with the vet nearby. Yes, will stay off cedar shavings!! Thanks for the information!

Hope he/she'll be ok...

 

[TwoCrows]

Good luck with this little baby.

Oh and welcome to BYC and the quail forums!