I found one of my 5.5 week old Coturnix laying on its side in their cage and it looked dead. When I picked it up, it was alive but barely. I tried electrolytes and gentle warming, but it ended up dying last night.
In observing them more closely, I noticed 3 other birds who just looked off - fluffed up, standing with eyes closed, seeming somewhat listless. One of them was struggling to remain upright and falling over a bit. I separated all and brought the weird ones inside - gave electrolytes and food, and gently warming. All 3 are good and water interested, and made it through the night.
However, theyāre still having bouts of falling over, standing on one leg, tucking heads under wings, and fluffing up. In handling them, theyāre shockingly thin compared to my other birds from the same hatch and have some loose stools.
My suspicion in observing them is that these few have either been unable to reach into their feeder (I observed some having to really reach on their toes ) or maybe were bullied away by one of the Roos as a few have started crowing and getting a little rowdy already (my money is on not able to reach their food adequately though). Weāve since rectified this and added additional feeders to this specific pen to ensure this isnāt an issue going forward.
All that being said. Iām hoping this would explain their behavior and body condition versus something more serious like UE. Thoughts? Anything else I should do for the ill birds?
Details:
-They were recently moved into a main pen indoors from the brooder (approx 1 week ago). -Theyāve been off heat for almost 2 weeks prior to pen move
-Fed game bird starter crumble from H&H since hatch (no change to food other than different style feeder in new pen)
-Literally ZERO contact with any other birds or people aside from me. These birds have never even been outdoors.
-They are in a pen adjacent to our mature hens who were recently moved indoors for winter, but donāt have access to them.
-All birds from this same hatch were thriving in their brooder prior to being moved (only moved pens to a new (never used before).
-Gave them a sandbox with fresh (bagged) sand 1 week ago - they seem to love it and since the ill birds are still eating/drinking well, I donāt think itās likely a crop issue
In observing them more closely, I noticed 3 other birds who just looked off - fluffed up, standing with eyes closed, seeming somewhat listless. One of them was struggling to remain upright and falling over a bit. I separated all and brought the weird ones inside - gave electrolytes and food, and gently warming. All 3 are good and water interested, and made it through the night.
However, theyāre still having bouts of falling over, standing on one leg, tucking heads under wings, and fluffing up. In handling them, theyāre shockingly thin compared to my other birds from the same hatch and have some loose stools.
My suspicion in observing them is that these few have either been unable to reach into their feeder (I observed some having to really reach on their toes ) or maybe were bullied away by one of the Roos as a few have started crowing and getting a little rowdy already (my money is on not able to reach their food adequately though). Weāve since rectified this and added additional feeders to this specific pen to ensure this isnāt an issue going forward.
All that being said. Iām hoping this would explain their behavior and body condition versus something more serious like UE. Thoughts? Anything else I should do for the ill birds?
Details:
-They were recently moved into a main pen indoors from the brooder (approx 1 week ago). -Theyāve been off heat for almost 2 weeks prior to pen move
-Fed game bird starter crumble from H&H since hatch (no change to food other than different style feeder in new pen)
-Literally ZERO contact with any other birds or people aside from me. These birds have never even been outdoors.
-They are in a pen adjacent to our mature hens who were recently moved indoors for winter, but donāt have access to them.
-All birds from this same hatch were thriving in their brooder prior to being moved (only moved pens to a new (never used before).
-Gave them a sandbox with fresh (bagged) sand 1 week ago - they seem to love it and since the ill birds are still eating/drinking well, I donāt think itās likely a crop issue