Quails running backwards!?

[Machi]

I have 12 Japanese quails, and few of them are acting peculiarly some times: they run backwards, and keep noise like they are afraid or in pain! When they hit something they fall on their sites, twisting their legs and head... They usually do this when they are tired. It started at the age of 2 weeks. What causes this behaviour?? Is it a disease or a genetic problem? They are otherwise normal. They eat good quality food, and have a lot of space to run and fly (the top of the cage is flexible). They are not stressed, for example when I clean the cage some of them might dust-bath, or follow my hand (if there would be any piece of cucumber or salad...!) I bought them from breeders that want to produce only "special colours" - prhehaps this is the problem? I live in Finland, and I suppose there is too much inbreeding here. But I don't know. It seems difficult to get any answers. How common is this behaviour??

 

[TwoCrows]

Sounds like they are getting scared and flushing up into the ceiling. They damage their necks or brains which in turn causes nerve damage. Causes lameness, confusion, loss of motor activity and falling over or running backwards is a symptom.

Separate these birds out and keep them in a cage with convenient water and food. (you don't want them competing for food). Keep them warm as well. Cold birds do not heal. Keep them on something soft like a towel as well. Feed them what ever they will eat. Lots of times sick birds go off their feed. If all they will eat is warmed chopped hard boiled eggs then so be it. Some of these birds may heal, some may not, depending on how hard they have hit the ceiling.

You need to do some work on your pens. Do not over crowd them. 2 square feet per bird and several food and water stations so there is no competition if you have a lot of birds. When they get scared, they would much prefer to run for cover than flush up. But if there is no cover, they are going to go up. So put some foliage, fake or real, in the pens for them to hide under or linger. Wild quail naturally spend their entire days under brush.

Make sure to keep the dogs, kids, noise, predators etc...under control. So keep your birds in a quiet area away from noise and especially at night if predators are coming around, they are going to be flying into the ceiling.

 

[kingmt]

I used to keep my birds in cages with short walls. They can't get up any speed to hurt their little heads. Quail aren't the smartest thing around. They are kinda bird brained.

 

[Machi]

Thank you for the answers!!

The 12 birds are now in a cage that is 120 cm long, 60 cm wide and 80 cm high.
It's getting too small for them, so tomorrow they'll move to a cage that is twice bigger.

The ceiling of the cage is flexible, because it's attached very loosely... I've seen them flight till the ceiling a couple of times, but more like "playing" together, and after that they have continued a bit jumping etc. If they have been frightened by something while I haven't seen them, I think the ceiling should be safe enough anyway... I bought the quails when they were only 5 days old, so they haven't been in other cages.

I used to put hiding places to them, but they didn't use them. The previous time I had quails (bought them when they were 3 weeks old, were not as tame), they loved to have a good hiding place.The next cage will contain hiding places, because like you said, it's natural for quails to hide in bushes. They will move outdoors, so hiding places will certainly be a good thing! They also need a place where they can lay eggs alone. But I don't think getting frightened and hurting the head is the cause of the problem...

I have tried yo be quiet when they sleep, I even clean the house after they have had their naps!! One day they were tired because my 6-year old daughter started her summer holiday with me, and there was more noice. I don't have other pets, I live alone - with the quails. At my livingroom!

There is 4 quails acting this way, 2 of them are very big-sized - and they all eat with a good apetite!! I haven't noticed any difference. I really don't understand this behaviour... They don't do it very often, actually the last days only one bird has been acting like this. It started as the last doing this, prehaps it gets better??? The vets are on holiday, or they have never heard of this behaviour.

I think I will separete the 4 birds anyway..? I can keep them in the cage they are now, and the others can move to the new cage. Don't know yet, what should I do with the quails!

 

[TwoCrows]

Running backwards or loss of balance and falling is definitely coming from something effecting the brain. It is possible they may have bacteria Encephalitis, which is basically a brain swelling. Not all that common however. Quail are pretty delicate and it doesn't take much of a bump to the head to cause injury.

If they are cramped in a cage, they could still be bouncing off the ceiling. However if you are sure this is not the case, antibiotics would help the cure any bacterial infections they may have.

 

[Machi]

I would be so glad to see them recover with antibiotics!
On the other hand, if it's something that might spread to wild birds, I can't put them outdoors yet.

I'm waiting for answers from few poultry-specialist, I'll write them here when I get answers. If they can't tell me what's wrong, I can send a sample for them to examine.

Am I really the only one with this problem..???

 

[dc3085]

Running backwards or circling is almost always from them hitting their head. Encephalitis is a possibility as well but usually comes from feeding moldy or otherwise fouled feeds.

Is your poultry expert doing a necropsy? If not there is nothing they can tell you beyond what you've heard here.

 

[Machi]

We considered many alternatives, but only one seemed probable: genetic issue.
The birds are otherwise healthy, and none have died. i could post a video here so you could see the behaviour... but is it possible? (with iPad?)

 

[TwoCrows]

Anything is possible. Severe mental retardation could cause such activity I suppose. As long as they are living regular lives and can go about their daily business then there isn't much else you can do.

 

[ljcygnet]

I had this kind of problem in a batch of chicken chicks. (Couple hundred birds.) The state vet determined, on necropsy and sampling of the feed, that the mill had left vitamin e out of the feed -- lack of vitamin E causes severe neurological symptoms. The feed was a name brand "good" feed, too -- it was just an oops at the mill.

State vet also told me that avian flu can cause identical symptoms. My flock was on lock down for a couple of weeks until they verified it was a feed problem and not an infectious problem. Just a head's up.