Quail with sore eye, hiding away from others

[CoundonChick]

Hi,

One of our quail (probably about 4months old now) has a swollen eye with the feathers missing from between the beak and her eye. She's always seemed very nervous and happier to hide at the back of the hutch/coop but now she has been just sitting in the darker feed area of the coop in a separate section to the other 4 quail. She's also scratching her eye.

I wondered if it anyone has had something similar, I have looked on the forums and people seem to suggest there's fighting going on as one possibility. They're all hens and have plenty of space, treats, things to play with etc so I thought that wouldn't be an issue.

Otherwise it could be an issue with the eye and that's what is causing her to just skulk around in the dark. I haven't seen any fighting so it might just be an infection or something.

Any suggestions as to what I should do? Should I separate her off? I'd have to find a cage for her away from the others which would be a bit of a pain but I could rustle something up.

Any suggestions would be great! Thanks x

Photos: - 1 - the other eye - looks a bit closed but not so weepy and no feathers missing
2- the bad eye
3- plenty of space and things for them to play with/hide under etc

 

[A.M. Eggs]

My first thought was infection. Infections are known to swell up and be itchy. I do not have any experience with quail, but I do know what an infection looks like. I use Vetricyn Optical Gel for my chickens, but I don’t know if it is safe for quail. Hope she gets better!

 

[le_bwah]

I don't think those facial feathers are missing—it looks more like the swelling beneath has caused them to move further apart. That doesn't look like eye trauma to me, either. It looks almost like an allergic reaction.

Is anything coming out of the "bad" eye? If so, what texture and color?

Could be that she was bitten by and/or ate a stinging insect that she's allergic to. Also, I see there are branches in their cage—do the leaves smell strongly? My quail once reacted somewhat to the juniper branches I gave them.

You could separate, as she's at a disadvantage in a scuffle right now. The first thing I'd try is an antihistamine—no clue what's safe for quail, but I can do a bit of research in a minute.

 

[le_bwah]

Search pulled up >this< post. If it were my bird, and she didn't show signs of reduced swelling within the next day, I might try to give her 1/8 mL of children's Benadryl.

How long has she been swollen?

 

[CoundonChick]

I don't think those facial feathers are missing—it looks more like the swelling beneath has caused them to move further apart. That doesn't look like eye trauma to me, either. It looks almost like an allergic reaction.

Is anything coming out of the "bad" eye? If so, what texture and color?

Could be that she was bitten by and/or ate a stinging insect that she's allergic to. Also, I see there are branches in their cage—do the leaves smell strongly? My quail once reacted somewhat to the juniper branches I gave them.

You could separate, as she's at a disadvantage in a scuffle right now. The first thing I'd try is an antihistamine—no clue what's safe for quail, but I can do a bit of research in a minute.

Thanks, the eye is just weeping tears, well it just looks v wet, but it is clear.

The branches in there are just for, and they’ve been in there a while so I’d be surprised if it’s that. I put an apple in there for the first time for them to peck. But I doubt she could have an allergy to that.

Yes I have a rabbit cage I could pop her in to (no rabbits in there don’t worry). I just hope she’ll be ok if/when I re-introduce her.

Thank you for your help. Catherine

 

[el dorado quail]

Are those branches from a cedar tree?

 

[CoundonChick]

Search pulled up >this< post. If it were my bird, and she didn't show signs of reduced swelling within the next day, I might try to give her 1/8 mL of children's Benadryl.

How long has she been swollen?

Thanks so much, I haven’t any but I’ll get some tomorrow...it’s a bank holiday here so everything’s shut this evening. It’s worth a try.

We first noticed this yesterday afternoon but thought we’d see how it goes and see if she was any happier today.

Thanks again for your advice.

The branches were from a small fir-tree bush...that’s similar to cedar. (I’ve just looked it up and I see cedar is toxic for them). Maybe I’ll remove the fir just in case.

 

[DK newbie]

I'm thinking it looks like a sinus infection. Depending on how long it's been building up, antibiotics might work - if they don't, it might be necessary to remove pus by cutting a hole into the infected sinus.. At the moment it's not quite clear to me where that would be though. But I remember a post on here maybe 2 years ago where someone did it. They used an old sock to restrain the bird - just cut a hole for the head and pop the bird in. Worked great.

 

[CoundonChick]

She’s not looking well at all this morning, I’ve separated her off from the others as she had a lot of blood on her beak so it could be fighting. Both her eyes seem closed up now and I’m wondering if she can see at all. I e been syringing water into her mouth which she does seem keen to take, but I’m not sure how I can get her to eat anything. I’ve soaked some food in water and given her mealworms too.

Hopefully the separation will help. She’s inside and warm for now.

 

[Goldendog]

She’s not looking well at all this morning, I’ve separated her off from the others as she had a lot of blood on her beak so it could be fighting. Both her eyes seem closed up now and I’m wondering if she can see at all. I e been syringing water into her mouth which she does seem keen to take, but I’m not sure how I can get her to eat anything. I’ve soaked some food in water and given her mealworms too.

Hopefully the separation will help. She’s inside and warm for now.

I am sorry to see she is not doing well. Please keep us updated.