Quail

[TwoCrows]

@TwoCrows, I once had a brand of feed that when it got wet it went rancid very quickly. Because it was high in some type of fat, a few that ate it started behaving a like this, though mine were much worse.

They were treated with vitamin e and recovered 100% in 2 days.

Anyway, I guess what I'm trying to say is I like your suggestion of giving them vitamins.

http://www.poultrydvm.com/condition/encephalomalacia

Funny you should mention feed, I was actually thinking the same thing, but wasn't sure.

Chicks are SO effected by the lack of proper vitamins either in the feed or lacking them from a genetic standpoint. So when in doubt, add vitamins!!

 

[007Sean]

Funny you should mention feed, I was actually thinking the same thing, but wasn't sure.

Chicks are SO effected by the lack of proper vitamins either in the feed or lacking them from a genetic standpoint. So when in doubt, add vitamins!!

After watching the video, I was struck by the number of birds that were showing the syptoms.
For me this ruled out genetic deformities. Then I thought it might be Mycotoxicoses, because of the sudden onset of the symptoms.
There are hundreds of mycotoxins and many have a synergistic relationships with other mycotoxins. One being nutritional deficiencies.

The one mycotoxin that comes to my mind is Ergat poisoning. Caused by the Claviceps ssp. of fungi. It is a highly toxic fungal metabolite. Usually this is associated with cereal grains, specifically, wheat and rye.
The ergot alkaloids affect the nervous system, causing vasoconstriction, atrophy and permanent disfigurement.
It can affect the legs and toes, causing ulcers and a discoloration of the toes.

I had a similar problem a year ago with some of my pheasants chicks. They were just fine, until I had to have some more feed milled. After about two weeks on the 'new' feed, they started having seizures. I didn't realize it at the time what the cause was, I thought I might be a genetic neurologic disorder but then again, it was across all the hatchlings, not just a specific species.

To make a long story short, I had the 'new' feed anaylized and found that it was contaminated with the Ergat fungi. I have winter red wheat, rye and milo mixed in the feed I have custom milled.
I didn't lose any birds but it was very disconcerning watching those chicks go through those spasm and not being able to walk...just like the video. It had no permanent affect on them but it could have if I continued to feed the tainted feed. After changing the feed out again, I haven't had anymore problems.
An after thought, I used Nutri-Drench in their water during this time, it seemed to help ease the symptoms.

 

[casportpony]

from @TwoCrows and @007Sean

 

[Bubba2134]

I think @007Sean nailed it. Their toes are probably bent and curled. Improper incubation temps and humidity levels cause lots of deformaties and screwed up feet.

Some people make tiny shoes to straight toes but you won't be able to do this with so many.

I suggest lots of B vitamins, E vitamins and Seleium. These 3 things may help straighten the toes and feet in their own.

Get a good poultry vitamin supplement into them, something like nutri drench, poultry booster to name a couple.
Try to avoid supplements with electrolytes, chicks don't need these.

Ya I’ve done the same things for 5 years and this year had this problem but I took my tanks out and put the in the room on the floor. It’s like there legs are all the way spread out or so bad the just lay on there side. I have a mill make my feed my because I don’t like paying a lot of money and mine has the same stuff. I run corn soybean meal and calcium. I will try vitamins and hard boiled eggs. And I will increase the shavings. They just scratch it out under the light. What sand is good to use for them to dust in I heard play sand was bad for them

 

[Bubba2134]

After watching the video, I was struck by the number of birds that were showing the syptoms.
For me this ruled out genetic deformities. Then I thought it might be Mycotoxicoses, because of the sudden onset of the symptoms.
There are hundreds of mycotoxins and many have a synergistic relationships with other mycotoxins. One being nutritional deficiencies.

The one mycotoxin that comes to my mind is Ergat poisoning. Caused by the Claviceps ssp. of fungi. It is a highly toxic fungal metabolite. Usually this is associated with cereal grains, specifically, wheat and rye.
The ergot alkaloids affect the nervous system, causing vasoconstriction, atrophy and permanent disfigurement.
It can affect the legs and toes, causing ulcers and a discoloration of the toes.

I had a similar problem a year ago with some of my pheasants chicks. They were just fine, until I had to have some more feed milled. After about two weeks on the 'new' feed, they started having seizures. I didn't realize it at the time what the cause was, I thought I might be a genetic neurologic disorder but then again, it was across all the hatchlings, not just a specific species.

To make a long story short, I had the 'new' feed anaylized and found that it was contaminated with the Ergat fungi. I have winter red wheat, rye and milo mixed in the feed I have custom milled.
I didn't lose any birds but it was very disconcerning watching those chicks go through those spasm and not being able to walk...just like the video. It had no permanent affect on them but it could have if I continued to feed the tainted feed. After changing the feed out again, I haven't had anymore problems.
An after thought, I used Nutri-Drench in their water during this time, it seemed to help ease the symptoms.

I run corn soybean meal and calsium milled together. So you think it’s the feed?

 

[007Sean]

I run corn soybean meal and calsium milled together. So you think it’s the feed?

That would be my most likely suspect given the symptoms they are showing.

 

[007Sean]

I also noticed that they were huddling under the heat lamps, what is the temp in their brooder under the lamps?
After looking at the video again, is that hardware cloth under the shavings. If so they could be injuring themselves on the wire.

 

[Bubba2134]

What kind of sand is good for them to dust in?

 

[Bubba2134]

@TwoCrows, I once had a brand of feed that when it got wet it went rancid very quickly. Because it was high in some type of fat, a few that ate it started behaving a like this, though mine were much worse.

They were treated with vitamin e and recovered 100% in 2 days.

Anyway, I guess what I'm trying to say is I like your suggestion of giving them vitamins.

http://www.poultrydvm.com/condition/encephalomalacia

Where do you get vitamins for quail?

 

[Bubba2134]

Funny you should mention feed, I was actually thinking the same thing, but wasn't sure.

Chicks are SO effected by the lack of proper vitamins either in the feed or lacking them from a genetic standpoint. So when in doubt, add vitamins!!

Where do you get vitamins and brand and put it in the feed or water?