Quail with injured foot

[maadroj]

I just noticed that one of my hatchlings (almost 3 weeks old) appears to have injured its foot. It was sitting in a corner by itself, puffing its feathers and peeping sadly. When another chick came over and pecked it, it stood up, holding one of its feet up. I don't see a cut and am not sure how it hurt itself. I'm wondering if it's a sprain or fracture. It looks swollen. Is there anything I can do to help it heal, or any pain medicine that would be safe for such a tiny body?

 

[el dorado quail]

Get a really good picture of its injured foot so we can make better diagnostic guesses. Are these quail on wire?

 

[maadroj]

Get a really good picture of its injured foot so we can make better diagnostic guesses. Are these quail on wire?

No, they're not on wire, they're on a fleece pad that I was about to change out when I noticed it. I'm trying to get a better picture, but it's hard because the others panic and disturb or block my view is the injured one. Will post a new picture when I can. Thank you.

 

[007Sean]

A clearer pic would help but it looked like a 'bulbous' growth on the leg? A new pic is needed to be for certain.

 

[maadroj]

Swelling has increased since I first saw it. Pretty sure it's broken or at least sprained.

 

[007Sean]

Are they raised on wire? Could possibly be bumble foot, is there any black scabs on the bottom side of foot?
You might try soaking it in some warm Epsom salt water.
I'm not recommending this but if it was mine, and the swelling was fluid filled, I would insert a hypodermic needle into it to remove the fluid and then treat with betadine, neosporin or other antibacterial solution or cream, and keep an eye on it for further complications.
Also moving it to a place that has a soft flooring might help.
You may also try to use some antibiotics if it is an infection. Duramycin is available without script from TSC or other feed stores.

 

[maadroj]

Are they raised on wire? Could possibly be bumble foot, is there any black scabs on the bottom side of foot?
You might try soaking it in some warm Epsom salt water.
I'm not recommending this but if it was mine, and the swelling was fluid filled, I would insert a hypodermic needle into it to remove the fluid and then treat with betadine, neosporin or other antibacterial solution or cream, and keep an eye on it for further complications.
Also moving it to a place that has a soft flooring might help.
You may also try to use some antibiotics if it is an infection. Duramycin is available without script from TSC or other feed stores.

It's on felt, not wire, and does not have scabbing.

 

[maadroj]

Update: it was a "hair tourniqete"! A strand of human hair got wrapped around the foot, causing swelling that obscured the hair the first few times I tried to inspect it. I was able to cut it off, soak the foot in cool water, applied bacitracin ointment, and wrapped the foot lightly for a few hours for the ointment to dry. The foot looks much better today, though still slightly pink and swollen. The chick is walking and using the foot, though sometimes still raising it. I feel absolutely SICK that it endured this for so long, and relieved it didn't entirely cut off the circulation in the foot. Hopefully there isn't any permanent damage. Photo from yesterday immediately after removing the hair and soaking the foot, and the chick walking about a few hours later.

 

[007Sean]

Glad to hear you found out the problem. Hopefully it will be ok with no permanent disability.

 

[Fur-N-Fowl]

So glad your little chick is okay and you found what it was!

It does seem much better even right after removing the hair. Hopefully it continues towards a full recovery

Human hair can be just as lethal as fishing wire at times.