Quail chicks having some sort of fit or trance? (pretty horrible)

[Fraoch21]

I have 6 2 day old quail and earlier on this morning one of them had some sort of fit or something that lasted about 30 seconds maybe and when i found it i thought it was dieing so i seperated it but withing seconds of me walking away i heard it cheeping really loudly so i went back to look and there it was running around like nothing happened...so i put it back in with the rest.
Just a few minutes ago ( about 5-6 hours after) It had another fit or whatever it was lasting maybe a tiny bit longer than the last. I heard them all chirping and making a lot of noise so i went over to find it was this one chick making the noise and squirming around. I picked it up and held it till it came out of it and then it was absolutly fine. I have no idea how to describe it, the chick half closed its eyes and would wriggling and jerk its head back and forth almost like it was trying to get rid of something inside its head or was just in terrible pain. Then it would pause and go kind of stiff and still then its head would hang limp then it would wriggle and jerk again. The whole time the chick is making noises like its in pain. Its nothing like a fit a human would have but i have no other way to descibe it. When it stops the chick seems to not remember what happened cause it freaked out when it woke up and i was holding it, like it was asleep the whole time. What on earth is happening to it? As you can imagine its pretty horrible to watch so is there a way to stop it? I hope it looks worse than it actually is for the chick!!

 

[Pent]

It sounds like a seizure, I know people and dogs can have them, so it makes sense that a bird could. Generally they are nerve disorders, that can be lived with, but usually require medication to prevent outbreaks. If it is a seizure, it does look worse than it is, because they really don't know whats happening and don't remember it afterward.

 

[Fraoch21]

thank goodness it might not feel it! If it is a seizure would there be anything that brings one on or are they random?

 

[Pent]

Seizures have strong genetic influences, but can be triggered by bright colors, flashing lights, or stress. My cousin developed a seizure disorder after her parents divorced, and her father died subsequently. Makes driving rather an issue, but I doubt your chick will be doing any driving. I'd just keep an eye on it, it could survive, though I don't recommend breeding from that one. I'm not sure how much stress a seizure like that causes on a small body. Generally they can come on pretty randomly, but I'm no expert.

 

[Fraoch21]

Thank you, the reason i hatched them was to sell with another quail in november at an auction since i dont think I'm going to continue keeping them. But i guess i cant sell that one so I'm not sure what I'll do with it now..

 

[Pent]

another thread mentioned encephilitis (sp?), so you should probably separate that chick in case its seizures are triggered by something contageous.

 

[Fraoch21]

Ohh, ok. Any ideas on how to calm the chick when its seperate since they make a lot of noise and get pretty distressed?

 

[Mcfly1988]

I have a fitting chick too it's been doing it for weeks just when I go to pick it up it's pretty scary to watch but she is fine straight after so weird

 

[Fraoch21]

My chick only had one more fit after i posted on here and hasnt ahd another since, which is great

So maybe yours will grow out of it too!

 

[Mcfly1988]

Well it's now been about 7 weeks and it still has its 20 second fits when it gets stressed, I love it though and otherwise it's fine eats drinks chirps away and comes to speak to me hope it stays fine.