Quail Problems

[farahziya]

Hi,

We have four quail; two breeding pairs kept in an outdoor aviary with a few other budgies. They've been out since early September, so have had time to acclimatise. All are okay with the change to the miserable British weather as they've been bred in aviaries. Howevever we have noticed within a week (clean out once a week) that a male quail has lost a lot of weight so much so that the breast bone and neck are clearly visible, there is no picking on or fighting from any other birds. Upon closer inspection and brining him inside for isolation; he has lost feathers on all of his underside, initially we thought due to contact with the ground, but he appears to have what smells like half digested food caking the skin where his feathers should be along his front. All birds have been wormed and mite sprayed recently with shelter, wood chippings, hay and sand baths.

We have mite sprayed him again and rewormed him as he's now on his own, he als has multivitamin drops in his food to give him a boost; he's eating an drinking fine, infact was drinking a lot. After two days indoors and in isolation (today) he has a completely wet front, not drinking much and keeps reversing into things.

Any help or advice as what to do next would be much appreciated. Our local vets are not specialists in birds and we are not sure the quail would survive an hour and a half trip to the specialist one.

I have kept lots of chickens before and never had any problems, this is a new house and new aviary anyway. Have checked the aviary and other birds for signs of infestation or related problems; all are healthy, plump, full plumage and active.

Just for information; all quail are this years stock (June), the females haven't started egg laying yet as days are short. They are all properly fed and watered; quails have their own feeder and water to the budgies so have fresh food.

 

[Stellar]

These are Chinese blue breasted (button) quail I am suspecting? Does your male have a swollen abdomen, diarrea? Could you describe every odd thing you see.

What is the diet of of your cbbq?

 

[farahziya]

He's an English Quail.

There is a little bit of faeces on the vent but that's usual for an animal that's ill. He sits on the floor all the time, is fluffed up, seems damp round the front, has a very prominent breast bone with no "meat", the breast area below the crop is completely bare of feathers and slightly crusty, smelling of partly digested food. He is drinking lots and eating fine, but isn't well in himself.

All our quails eat the same food; quail mix with chick crumbs and bird grit, they have a sand bath that some eat out of too, they have a regular but rationed supply of mealworms (one per quail per day). The rest of the quails are fine and healthy. Just this one.

Talked to a vet, he suggested crop problems, so am going to see if it can make the 40 minute drive to that vets tomorrow morning. Hope all goes okay, he makes it through tonight and we can sort him out tomorrow.

Any ideas on how to stop this happening again? I've had chickens before and never had problems, all other quails eat the grit and food; digests well.

 

[Stellar]

Please read this article on the vent gleet (feces on the vent). It may help you a little on how to help your quail.

http://www.birdhealth.com.au/bird/chick-fowl/ventgleet.html

 

[mhwc56]

Quote:
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[farahziya]

The faeces on the vent happens as a secondary sign of an underlying problem. It's that underlying problem we're interested in which may possibly be due to an impacted crop. There's no swollen abdomen or diarrhea; faeces are just stuck as if it couldn't stand up to do it's business and hasn't preened itself.

He's at the vets now for observation, which I should be expecting a call about him later; doesn't look good as he was on his side this morning. Idea is to eliminate ideas as to what it could have been even if we don't know what it is. He may have always had a problem that's just showing now, he has a short beak too.