Removing poop off quail feet?

[Terri O]

If I get one with "poop balls" I hold the bird in one hand and gently squeeze the ball with a pair of pliers until it starts to crack. Then it is easy to remove without hurting their toes. I also give them a pan to dust bathe in.

 

[James the Bald]

I've been following this thread since it was posted last week, and I've been curious as to how many quail you have, and what size cage are they in? When I first read your initial post, the only thing that went through my head was that "this was taken from one of those tv shows where animal control officers confiscates pets for inhumane conditions", because that's what it sounded like. I have to apologize for my comments, but I can't imagine allowing an animal to walk in their own feces to the point where it starts sticking to their feet.

 

[TwoCrows]

Unlike James here, I have not been following this thread at all. Sometimes some of these posts seem so obvious and don't need any comment.

But I agree with James 110%. If the birds are getting poop balls stuck to their feet, they are either too cramped in, getting wet or hygiene needs to be better practiced. There should not be so much poop laying around that it is getting adhered to the feet.

 

[yallapilko]

I think that's a bit harsh. From my experience poop balls can form overnight with only a bit of poop around. It depends upon the bedding used. I experimented using different types and some were worse than others. I think it's good s/he is asking for help and getting it rather than ignoring the problem.

 

[TwoCrows]

I think that's a bit harsh. From my experience poop balls can form overnight with only a bit of poop around. It depends upon the bedding used. I experimented using different types and some were worse than others. I think it's good s/he is asking for help and getting it rather than ignoring the problem.

I do apologize to anyone if it sounded like I was being to harsh here. It was not my intentions. However as for myself, I am a firm believer in cleanliness. The key to good health starts with the utmost care in keeping the birds in a clean environment.

I am not talking about just poop on feet. The subject was poop balls. Poop balls form when the quail repeatedly step in poop and it is allowed to dry on the feet. And I am ONLY speaking for myself here, but in my facilities, poop balls are unexceptable.

And this is the number one reason I preach giving the birds as much space as possible. For myself, 1 square foot is not enough space for quality of life for a quail. And certainly the amount of poop being expelled, keeping birds in such tight quarters can be overwhelming enough to cause poop balls and disease.

Also, if the pen floor is not 1/2 wire, the poop is not going to fall thru.

I clean my pens, cages and aviaries daily. And in nearly a decade of keeping quail, I have never had a single poop ball on any of my quail's feet. I am not saying that if you don't clean your cages as much as I do, you are doing anything wrong. But for my personal standards here at my facilities, it is a must. Yes, maybe I DO have an OCD about being clean, (feel free to laugh at me here, LOL) but that is just how I work. And my birds health shows for it.

I am glad that this person asking for help. That is the only way to learn. So again, I do apologize if I came across harshly.

 

[James the Bald]

As a responsible pet owner, we owe it to these birds to provide them a clean environment.

 

[yallapilko]

Yes cleanliness is of upmost importance and I certainly agree about keeping them in much larger space than 1sq foot! But, toe-balling is not uncommon and has been mentioned on this forum a lot. I would hate for people not to mention this issue as I feel you may be in the minority for not having any toe-balling in 10yrs of keeping quail and people need to know how to remove them without harming the birds and also of course pointing in the direction of cleanliness, as you have done. Incidently, I did an experiment using different bedding recently and had toe balls form overnight when using oats as bedding (actual oats, not the straw). They had formed like concrete in only hours, so won't be using oats again.
Anyway, maybe this quail owner has gained some useful info along the way here. I do hope so!

 

[Terri O]

I came back to this post cause I saw there were a few replies I hadnt read. I dont think it is so much poop on the toes as I found it again last week after a rain. My quail are on mostly wire and they have a pan filled with dirt to dust in. (changed and refilled daily) The problem seems to happen when the floor of the cage gets wet and they go into the dirt pan to dust or lay an egg. Then out, get wet, back in, put on another layer, get out and repeat! (like a thousand times a day!)
The balls dont look like poop--they look like dirt.
Just thought I would clarify.
TerriO

 

[veggiecanner]

I had this problem with chicks in the brooder, including on zip ties used for marking blood lines. Even with cleaning it daily.

You really have to stay on the ball.

 

[HowieNZ]

Perhaps instead of using dirt try sand, they love it, my Roo gets down in it even on his side and tosses it everywhere and then has big shake and repeats, must video it someday and post.