Quail with neurological symptoms

[RayrayB]

Hi! I'm very new to quail..
I have a 5 week old coturnix that seems to have some neurological issues. She scoots backwards and tucks her head (longer than the poop scoot, ha!), sometimes stumbling. She's much smaller than the other quail and is very scruffy looking (not smooth, healthy feathers like the others). She eats well and drinks well, although she tends to eat laying down in the food pile.
They are in an aviary and I don't think she hit her head (ceiling is high).
Any idea what might be going on? I've started giving her vitamin E but was hoping someone had some experience and suggestions.

 

[Nabiki]

What are you feeding them? It is possible that she was simply born with something wrong and she may not survive.

 

[Susan Skylark]

Is it like an octopus or crayfish scooting backwards away from danger and under a rock? My first hatch had two that did this, one a wry neck the other a runty mutant thing. Both were half the size of other birds and would literally run backwards and kamikaze into whatever was behind them. Usually it was after getting stepped on or to avoid another bird. I think it was a defense mechanism rather than neurological signs. Circling, head pressing, seizures, drunken movements, unable to feel or move a body part, can’t get upright, star gazing, difficulty eating or swallowing are all examples of neurological issues this sounds behavioral. I’d guess he’s got some sort of congenital defect and it probably isn’t fixable, I culled mine for their own sake but that’s a decision you have to make for yourself.

 

[RayrayB]

What are you feeding them? It is possible that she was simply born with something wrong and she may not survive.

game bird starter..my gut feel is there's not much I can do but she seems happy so I'll give her a chance

 

[RayrayB]

Is it like an octopus or crayfish scooting backwards away from danger and under a rock? My first hatch had two that did this, one a wry neck the other a runty mutant thing. Both were half the size of other birds and would literally run backwards and kamikaze into whatever was behind them. Usually it was after getting stepped on or to avoid another bird. I think it was a defense mechanism rather than neurological signs. Circling, head pressing, seizures, drunken movements, unable to feel or move a body part, can’t get upright, star gazing, difficulty eating or swallowing are all examples of neurological issues this sounds behavioral. I’d guess he’s got some sort of congenital defect and it probably isn’t fixable, I culled mine for their own sake but that’s a decision you have to make for yourself.

That makes sense! It's like it's how she starts her motor..before she can go forward she has to run backwards. My gut is there's not much I can do, but she seems content and the others aren't bothering her so I'll give her some time. Thanks for the response!

 

[RayrayB]

So today we discovered this on her leg. It's hard. My guess is some kind of infection but it's odd because she was in a very clean brooder until recently. She seems much better surprisingly, not running backwards as much and looking less scruffy..so kind of disappointed to find this Any ideas? She's only about 6 weeks old.

 

[Nabiki]

That looks like bumble foot, just not on her foot. Try giving her warm, epsom salt soaks two or three times a day for a few days and see if it improves.