Quail with swollen eye

[CovidtimeQuail]

It looks like it is going to explode but the chick is otherwise fine. Should I separate it anyway?

I put ointment and sprayed the area with vetericyn.

 

[Nabiki]

It looks like it is going to explode but the chick is otherwise fine. Should I separate it anyway?

I put ointment and sprayed the area with vetericyn.

That's not good. I've had a few chicks with bulging eyes like that (usually they're albino), and I've never had one survive. The question is, did it hatch like this, or did it develop later? If it hatched like this, I would cull it. If it developed later, you can keep doing what you're doing and keep watching it.

 

[CovidtimeQuail]

It developed it on day 5. I'm less concerned about 1 chick survival than a communicable infection right now. Birth defect is strangely a better outcome here.

 

[CovidtimeQuail]

What is strange is that it developed in less than 6 hrs and the chick is in no distress. Will observe for another hour and if not better separate from others.

 

[Nabiki]

What is strange is that it developed in less than 6 hrs and the chick is in no distress. Will observe for another hour and if not better separate from others.

If you're not sure it's genetic, I would separate it. Better to be safe.

 

[CovidtimeQuail]

I put in a separator which was immediately breached. I think they think it is a piece of playground equipment.

I put antibiotic ointment again and would rate the swelling as slightly less than before. Meanwhile I'm headed back to the workshop to figure out a better separator.

 

[CovidtimeQuail]

I made the separator and it cried so pitifully that I know it will not survive isolation.

It has a few more hours to show improvement before I know what I must do for the sake of the flock.

This will always be hard.

 

[CovidtimeQuail]

Update:

No improvement on the eye and the chick was failing to thrive. It was smaller than the rest and the other birds started picking on it.

This was the first time I've had to cull a baby, but I know it was both better for the flock and the outcome was inevitable.

 

[Nabiki]

Update:

No improvement on the eye and the chick was failing to thrive. It was smaller than the rest and the other birds started picking on it.

This was the first time I've had to cull a baby, but I know it was both better for the flock and the outcome was inevitable.

I hate culling chicks. I think you did the right thing, however. You know it's not suffering any more.