Quail suddenly unable to walk??

[SassShenn]

I had a quail suddenly unable to walk a few weeks ago, it was otherwise fine. Eating, drinking, pooping normally. Nothing helped (vitamin/mineral/electrolyte in water, isolation), and we ended up culling b/c she didn’t improve. Hen was over a year old, on 20-21% protein from a local feed source, and given extra mealworms that we also raise as treats.

At first I thought it was maybe a head/spine injury from popping up in their aviary (all are kept in a 7’ tall, outdoor aviary but it’s plausible they could hit their head somehow

Fast forward to today, and I have another hen in the same situation - suddenly can’t walk but otherwise wants food and water. Hen can move her legs, but can’t walk or bear much weight on them. Otherwise, she seems normal and not egg bound.

I also discovered another hen (around a year old) today with weirdly curled in feet who is hobbling around.

What on earth is going on?! We haven’t changed feed at all, they have free access to calcium supplement and fresh water 24/7. What am I missing? No signs of mites, coccidiosis, respiratory issues- nothing else I’d expect.

 

[Nabiki]

What is the full nutrition information on your feed?
Are there any sores on their feet or legs?
What is their floor like?

 

[Susan Skylark]

Can poultry get white muscle disease (vitamin E/selenium deficiency)? Ability to move legs likely rules out neurological issues (nerve damage would lead to inability to move/feel limbs).

 

[SassShenn]

What is the full nutrition information on your feed?
Are there any sores on their feet or legs?
What is their floor like?

Beautiful, normal feet no sores or anything approaching bumble foot. Floor of aviary is a mix of pine shavings and sand (this has been the norm for them historically and nothing changed).

Feed info is below - same feed we’ve always had them on (aside from as chicks where we use a 28-30% protein crumble)

 

[Nabiki]

Your feed is a little low on protein and methionine, but not so much that it should be causing this issue.

No bumblefoot, their flooring is good, and it sounds like their feet are healthy.

The height of the aviary makes head injury unlikely.

Does their poop look normal?
If you feel their keels, are they at a healthy weight?

 

[SassShenn]

Yes, poops and body conditions appear surprisingly normal. I’d worry more about the protein level if we hadn’t had the whole covey on the same feed for years without issue, but I suppose there are variations in feed production that could be an issue. I do have Fertrell poultry nutri-balancer additive I could give and/or mix in, as well as extra soybeans I could grind and provide.

It’s just so weird that there’s no other obvious signs of injury/illness aside from leg weakness

 

[Nabiki]

I'm stumped at this point, but I'm an amateur. Is a vet an option?

 

[Susan Skylark]

They do get white muscle! Muscle weakness/inability to walk/stand and death due to sudden heart attack is classic (could very easily be something else, nothing is classic in medicine!) and several individuals affected in the same flock (same diet) is also suggestive. Treatment is an injection of vitamin E/selenium (Bose or e-se in horse and cow land) not sure on the quail dose or administration (intra muscular in the breast?). At worst the treatment won’t hurt anything, about a 50 percent recovery rate in mammals.

 

[Susan Skylark]

Found an oral chicken dose for Bo-se, an injectable selenium/vitamin e source for cattle. The online source says .2 cc orally once daily for a silkie chicken (probably 5-7 days), so maybe quarter that for a quail (.05 cc)? More is not better, selenium is toxic if over dosed. Most large/mixed animal practices carry it. E-se is the horse version.

 

[SassShenn]

Found an oral chicken dose for Bo-se, an injectable selenium/vitamin e source for cattle. The online source says .2 cc orally once daily for a silkie chicken (probably 5-7 days), so maybe quarter that for a quail (.05 cc)? More is not better, selenium is toxic if over dosed. Most large/mixed animal practices carry it. E-se is the horse version.

Sounds like a solid possibility, especially absent any other symptoms or obvious signs of issue. Thank you for your insight! It’s always challenging to find specific quail info