Ripped wing on a quail—will it heal?

[MomFoldingLaundry]

Hey guys,

I have a quail who got injured (trying to figure out how) and the top part if it’s wing—maybe called the alula?—broke away from the rest of the wing. There’s only a very small spot where the skin is broken, but there was a fair amount of blood. I washed him/her off, put on neosporin, and set it next to a heat lamp in the “sick ward” with my stressed hen.

What concerns me is it’s not moving. Though it is brea thing. It doesnt seem like it should be such a bad injury, but it was having trouble walking in its coop.

Have any of you seen this kind of injury? Did your birds recover?

 

[Nabiki]

Do you have pictures? It sounds like you're doing the best you can unless you want to take it to a vet.

 

[le_bwah]

When you say the alula "broke away," do you mean it's no longer attached to the wing?

Quail typically respond to stress by hiding their pain and hunkering down to heal (or, with bad injuries, to die). I'd check them over one more time, make sure keel/ribs feel okay and legs are intact/in socket. If a vet is an option, check with them. If not, keep the bird warm and hydrated (and fed, if they'll take it) and check for changes in the morning. Wish you both luck!

 

[MomFoldingLaundry]

When you say the alula "broke away," do you mean it's no longer attached to the wing?

Quail typically respond to stress by hiding their pain and hunkering down to heal (or, with bad injuries, to die). I'd check them over one more time, make sure keel/ribs feel okay and legs are intact/in socket. If a vet is an option, check with them. If not, keep the bird warm and hydrated (and fed, if they'll take it) and check for changes in the morning. Wish you both luck!

Yeah, it’s no longer attached.

 

[MomFoldingLaundry]

Though now that I look at it, maybe that’s how it’s supposed to look, and it’s just that the feathers got pulled off?

 

[le_bwah]

Though now that I look at it, maybe that’s how it’s supposed to look, and it’s just that the feathers got pulled off?

The alula should feel like a little bony nub—you can usually gently move it with a fingernail. It's a bird's residual "thumb," tho quail don't seem to have repurposed it for much. If it's gone, your quail could be in shock from the pain of losing it. If so, it's very important they stay warm until their body systems "reboot." If you have NutriDrench or electrolytes, those can help. Dark and quiet don't hurt either.

Try to clean all the blood out of their feathers or they'll preen themselves bald (ask me how I know ).

Keep us updated!

 

[MomFoldingLaundry]

Good call on the electrolytes. I’ll give it some when I get home. Though I suspect either it will pull through or it won’t

 

[Verna Y]

Good call on the electrolytes. I’ll give it some when I get home. Though I suspect either it will pull through or it won’t

IF it is still alive when you get home, electrolytes will give it a better chance. Nature does take it's course, but it is always better to give the bird a helping hand so that it can heal.

 

[MomFoldingLaundry]

It's still breaking, but it seems to be "sinking" into the bedding.

Wondering if I should end things so I can use the heat lamp on my younger quail. :/

(They are using a reptile mat now.)

 

[le_bwah]

It's still breaking, but it seems to be "sinking" into the bedding.

Wondering if I should end things so I can use the heat lamp on my younger quail. :/

(They are using a reptile mat now.)

I'd give it til morning (depending on when morning is for you). In my experience, quail heal and bounce back fast from injuries given time to rest—if this one isn't up and moving by then, its chances aren't good. Give them a chance tho!