Quail Seizures? 3 Week Old Acting Strange

[dixieandthechicks]

Hi there!

We have a batch of jumbo coturnix that will be 3 weeks old Wednesday. We had 54 eggs delivered, 12 hatch, 1 die at 3 days old, and 1 die about a week ago.

Of the 10 remaining, one little one is 1/4 the size of the others, but still eats and drinks. Tonight, I noticed it shaking randomly and its mouth opening and closing almost nonstop.

What could be happening? My heart is breaking that this one might die too..

 

[Nabiki]

What are you feeding them? What is their setup like?

Unfortunately, if it's 1/4 the size of the rest, its chances aren't good.

 

[dixieandthechicks]

What are you feeding them? What is their setup like?

Unfortunately, if it's 1/4 the size of the rest, its chances aren't good.

Feeding game bird starter (30% protein). They are in a brooder tub under a heat lamp still. Access to food and water all the time.

 

[dixieandthechicks]

What are you feeding them? What is their setup like?

Unfortunately, if it's 1/4 the size of the rest, its chances aren't good.

 

[Nabiki]

You should be weaning them off of heat by now. At 3 weeks, they should be comfortable in room temperature.

This one sounds like failure to thrive. I've never had a runt like that survive to adulthood. Do you have anything like Nutri-drench or Save-a-Chick? You can try those to see if that gives it an energy boost. Some boiled, crushed egg yolk might give it some strength to grow as well.

 

[dixieandthechicks]

You should be weaning them off of heat by now. At 3 weeks, they should be comfortable in room temperature.

This one sounds like failure to thrive. I've never had a runt like that survive to adulthood. Do you have anything like Nutri-drench or Save-a-Chick? You can try those to see if that gives it an energy boost. Some boiled, crushed egg yolk might give it some strength to grow as well.

I tried water in a dropper but it just shakes its head we've even tried HydroHen in their water to help, but I can't get this one to take the water now.

 

[FloorCandy]

That chick looks pretty well feathered, it’s possible that it is just a standard sized bird and the rest are jumbos. They shouldnt need heat any more at 3 weeks, so you should wean them off. I would try offering some nutridrench or similar supplement, and maybe separate it alone with the next smallest one, it could be getting trampled by the big ones.

 

[FloorCandy]

I tried water in a dropper but it just shakes its head we've even tried HydroHen in their water to help, but I can't get this one to take the water now.

Can you try sugar water? I find they like the taste and it sometimes gets them willing to try other things.

 

[dixieandthechicks]

It's now laying on its side doing the "pant" thing after we tried HydroHen water.. We've isolated it just in case..

 

[FloorCandy]

It may be too hot. Does it have an area to get out of the heat?