Quail injuring herself

[QuailCuddlers]

Hi everyone. My family and I have a a coturnix hen that has injured her head by head-butting the ceiling of her pen. We put her in the "hospital pen" (a large plastic bin with a bi-fold lid). We have hardware cloth covering half of the opening and use the lid to cover the other half. We placed weights on top because she keeps trying to head-butt her way out. The problem is that she won't stop. Her scalp has been cut and her skull is exposed. This morning we were unable to move the scalp back over her skull because the blood had dried. I put a bit of cocnut oil (and betadine solution) on her scalp hoping the scab would soften. It hasn't helped.

I placed a folded towel underneath the plastic lid to try soften her ceiling. I don't know what else to do at this point. Does anyone have any suggestions?

 

[kingmt]

Lower her ceiling till she can't do that anymore. Put her in a shorter box till she calms down.

 

[QuailCuddlers]

Thank you for replying!

We had tried a little plastic carrying case (like something for gerbils) about the size of a men's shoebox. She was still trying to pop up. Should we try that again? It is about 17cm high. What about her scalp? How do I get it back over her skull?

 

[kingmt]

At this point it is to late. Just let it heal. You can put it on antibiotics by water if you like to help with infection.

 

[QuailCuddlers]

Thanks again, kingmt. My husband came up with an idea for a new holding pen. We took a smallish laundry basket and used binder clips to attach a low cloth ceiling made of an old T-shirt. I think it worked well. Last night I could hear her trying to pop out of the basket. But, this morning her scalp was not bleeding and she did not reopen her wound.

I came across another thread where someone has a quail with a similar injury. A member suggested feeding the quail boiled eggs and/or tuna to help with stress? Is that right?

 

[kingmt]

They need protein but I wouldn't over do it. To much cause health problems that you won't see. It would just have a shorter life then it would have.

There is stuff you can put on her head like Blue Koyt but unless you start having problems with infection I probably wouldn't.

 

[TwoCrows]

In the future, keep her in a pen with some real or fake foliage. Nervous quail need hidy places. They feel exposed in an open pen. Putting in live or fake branches in the pen will do wonders for a stressed out bird. In the wild quail linger all day long under brush and such. They are rarely exposed and out there. Your bird is obviously nervous and this will help settle her down if she can hide beneath some foliage. Try it and see if it helps.

 

[QuailCuddlers]

Thanks, TwoCrows. In the main quail pen, they have "huts" they like to hid in. I'll put soom grass clippings and weeds in her temporary pen tomorrow. I don't know if I can fit any branches in there, but I'll try. You are right that she is nervous. I've never seen her so stressed out.

 

[TwoCrows]

Thanks, TwoCrows. In the main quail pen, they have "huts" they like to hid in. I'll put soom grass clippings and weeds in her temporary pen tomorrow. I don't know if I can fit any branches in there, but I'll try. You are right that she is nervous. I've never seen her so stressed out.

They can be afraid of hidy holes as they feel they can get trapped inside. Branches are nice because they have many avenues to escape and blend in. But anything you can think of to calm her down. Maybe separate her out with one other female and keep them somewhere together in a quiet place. This hen maybe nervous and intimidated by all the other birds.

 

[kingmt]

I'd wait till she healed before putting her with other birds.