Unhappy quail - cull or cure?

[nicecupoftea]

Hi, I'm new to this site (and quail) having sort of accidentally ended up the owner of 5 coturnix quail (4 ladies, 1 male). One of the girls has not been 'right' since I got her a few days ago. I spoke to the breeder who is adamant it's just because she's bottom of the pecking order. She does eat and drink, and potters around, but I've never seen her being attacked by the others. They have plenty of space, are on quail food and have lots of water. The others seem happy and are laying. This one mostly just sits, and her eyes are very swollen. Sorry I can't upload photos at the moment. I suspect she has an infection of some sort and has done since I got her (and the breeder knew it!). What I can't seem to find out online is whether it's worth trying to cure her or whether it's kindest to cull. We're in the UK and I'd rather not go down the route of expensive vet bills but if there's a medication I can buy to try and help her I will. Any help much appreciated!

 

[April’s Zoo]

I’m sorry your quail isn’t feeling well....
Pictures will help.... close ups of her head and eyes, and a few of her overall body, showing how she stands, from a couple of angles.
Also please tell us what you feed them, including treats and/or supplements. What sort of enclosure are they in? Could she have gotten into anything she shouldn’t have?

 

[nicecupoftea]

Hi April's Zoo. Thanks for the reply. I'll try and get some photos shortly. Food is what the breeder gave me (a specialist quail food but I don't have the packet so not sure of details). No supplements other than crushed oyster shell. In a wire enclosure on the ground. As I say, she was like this from the first day I got her though so I don't think it's something from me. When I rang the breeder he told me she's "always been quiet" and hadn't been very well, had been with someone else in their aviary for a bit, then come back. Obviously didn't tell me any of this when I bought her! It'll be tricky to isolate her as I only have a cat travelling crate I could put her in. I'll nip out for some photos.

 

[nicecupoftea]

Photos. She's much worse today than last few days. Sitting with break open. I've now taken her out of the enclosure.

 

[Jessica Thompson]

Is she separated from the other quails she should see a vet

View attachment 1449039 View attachment 1449041 View attachment 1449042 Photos. She's much worse today than last few days. Sitting with break open. I've now taken her out of the enclosure.

 

[nicecupoftea]

Is she separated from the other quails she should see a vet

She is separated. But to be honest with the cost of a vet visit (and the additional stress it will cause her) then I'd rather go down the cull route. I just wanted to see if there is anything worth trying first. Thanks though.

 

[cosmosue]

Looks like someone sold you a sick animal.

Looks like she has some sort of eye infection. Or if she’s breathing funny something that lead to an eye infection.

I had a baby who’s eyes were closed and getting puffy but not this bad and I rinsed my fingers in warm water and worked them open without hurting him, but this was junk stuck to his eye and ear and he was acting funny, was the junk was removed and he opened his eyes on his own by the end of he day he was fine.

But this looks much much worse. You could try it though. I don’t want to say what else I would do as I am not a vet but I treat my own issues most of the time because I know more than my vet about birds than he does, but because I’m sure people will have their own opinions. But I wouldn’t cull until I was certain I had to.

I’ll just say this, So if I were you I would google google google until I found a few answers and then come up with a game plan. If that didn’t work yes I would most likely cull as it’s very easy to do. But it’s not really fair he sold you a sick bird. I would be extremely ticked off.

 

[nicecupoftea]

Looks like someone sold you a sick animal.

Looks like she has some sort of eye infection. Or if she’s breathing funny something that lead to an eye infection.

I had a baby who’s eyes were closed and getting puffy but not this bad and I rinsed my fingers in warm water and worked them open without hurting him, but this was junk stuck to his eye and ear and he was acting funny, was the junk was removed and he opened his eyes on his own by the end of he day he was fine.

But this looks much much worse. You could try it though. I don’t want to say what else I would do as I am not a vet but I treat my own issues most of the time because I know more than my vet about birds than he does, but because I’m sure people will have their own opinions. But I wouldn’t cull until I was certain I had to.

I’ll just say this, So if I were you I would google google google until I found a few answers and then come up with a game plan. If that didn’t work yes I would most likely cull as it’s very easy to do. But it’s not really fair he sold you a sick bird. I would be extremely ticked off.

Thanks! I am definitely ticked off. It's not the only issue with what he sold me (one of the 'drinkers' turned out to be a feeder, I think the birds are older than he said, etc). But you live and learn I guess. I've given her eyes a wash, put some booster supplement stuff in her water, and she's eating drinking and pooping normally. Some places seem to suggest trying antibiotic drops on her eyes. I have some so I might as well give that a go and give it 24 hours, see if she seems to be improving or not.

 

[cosmosue]

I didn’t want to suggest the drops because I didn’t want to be flamed for it but I do also have antibiotic drops for eyes and i once googled them because I had them on me on vacation and my belly button ring got infected no clue how it’s 25 years old!!! I found out it can be used as a topical as well. 2 drops on the belly button and the infection was GONE in one day!

So yeah I would try that if what you have now done doesn’t work. I mean if you plan to cull her anyway you may as well try it before you cull. Yes I would do it.

Thanks! I am definitely ticked off. It's not the only issue with what he sold me (one of the 'drinkers' turned out to be a feeder, I think the birds are older than he said, etc). But you live and learn I guess. I've given her eyes a wash, put some booster supplement stuff in her water, and she's eating drinking and pooping normally. Some places seem to suggest trying antibiotic drops on her eyes. I have some so I might as well give that a go and give it 24 hours, see if she seems to be improving or not.

 

[DK newbie]

The vet once gave us an antibiotic ointment that was made to be squezed into infected cow udders, to treat an infection in the eye of a horse.. I was pretty surprised it was safe to use it in the eye. The vet did remove all visible pus from the eye first though - from the pictures, I think it looks like she has pus filled areas below her eyes. If that is so, the antibiotics might not have any effect, as they probably won't be able to get into the pus filled areas.