sick quail! Help!

[Rossi1969]

Hi, i have 9 coturnix quails. They are 5 weeks and they have been outside in a large wire cage for one week. They have fresh water with a drop of ACV, non medicated organic quail feed, grit and I give them a bowl of fresh veggies daily. ( a little cucumber, leaf lettuce, watermelon, peas, spinach, currant berries). Every evening I give them meal worm. They are completely spoiled. Their cage also includes a pach of fresh grass, a sandbox, and a hiding enclosure. I've attached a layer of foam to the ceiling in case they fly up.
Yesterday I saw one of my quails stumbling, her neck bent forward. I brought her inside. She is laying down, unable to stand. We are giving her electrolyte water every 1-2 hours with a medicine dropper. She drinks it but refuse to eat anything. I felt her body everywhere and did not feel anything abnormal. Her feathers are nice, no plucking. My husband says I over feed them. He says the quails he had growing up had quail feed only. Did I give them too much veggies? I read somewhere that quails don't over eat? I thought I was giving them everything they could possibly need...She's alive but no improvement....

 

[Rossi1969]

 

[RosieR]

Quails don’t over eat. I’m sorry I do t know what the cause is. I hope she perks up soon!

 

[le_bwah]

I don't know what's wrong with her, but I have heard that treats should be limited for quail, especially mealworms (they have much more fat in them than you'd think). I hope your quail recovers.

 

[Jus1]

I'm relatively new to quail, but have learned that they only eat what they want. I have had leftover cucumbers and mealworms on many occasions. I had a baby do this very same thing. I never knew what happened. Sadly it died 3 days later, so unfortunately you may want to be prepared. I hope she can pull through

 

[Rossi1969]

I'm relatively new to quail, but have learned that they only eat what they want. I have had leftover cucumbers and mealworms on many occasions. I had a baby do this very same thing. I never knew what happened. Sadly it died 3 days later, so unfortunately you may want to be prepared. I hope she can pull through

I've lost babies too (failure to thrive). I guess I thought they were safe now since they're 5 weeks old.

 

[Rossi1969]

I'm relatively new to quail, but have learned that they only eat what they want. I have had leftover cucumbers and mealworms on many occasions. I had a baby do this very same thing. I never knew what happened. Sadly it died 3 days later, so unfortunately you may want to be prepared. I hope she can pull through

I just saw the pic, sorry about your chick, he was so cute.

 

[DK newbie]

Sure sounds strange.. Any way it could have hit a part of the roof that's not covered by the foam? By the way it looks like a boy to me. But if fighting was the cause it should have visible injuries, so I don't really know what to think..

 

[Rossi1969]

Sure sounds strange.. Any way it could have hit a part of the roof that's not covered by the foam? By the way it looks like a boy to me. But if fighting was the cause it should have visible injuries, so I don't really know what to think..

Yes it could be a boy. I had this quail with a boy and two girls. This one doesnt Crowe yet so I'm not sure. They all seamed to get along. The ceiling is completely covered. I supposed he could have hit his head on the sides. My neighbor thinks it got dehydrated. She said it happened to one of her chickens...even though there was fresh water available. ??

 

[Rossi1969]

Just an update. Today she's eating mashed hard boiled egg and her quail feed. She's also drinking electrolyte water, but doesn't seam to want to drink a lot. After drinking she shakes her head violently. I have to hold her up by the bowls since she can't stand on her own. I wish I knew what happened...