URGENT! injured quail!

[Poppy91]

Hi guys! I need some help!

I did a post a couple days ago asking for help sexing my Coturnix quail... I separated what I thought was males and females

Turns out one of my “females” peaked a gouge into the other ones head!! Is there anything I can do for him??? He’s walking ok and I watched him eat and drink! Don’t want the poor little guy suffering!

Any suggestions on if/ how I can help him or if he needs to be put down? I’d hate to waste him!

I thought the one that did this was a hen, I put her back in with the other hens... who she was fine with before and now I’m playing ref as they are ALL trying to brain each other now??? What’s with this weird behaviour??

 

[007Sean]

That's a hen in the pic. I'd wash the wound, dry it off, if you have any wound powder I'd put that on it.
Seperate the wounded one from the rest of the flock.
Then watch for which one is the assassin and dispatch or remove it from the rest, too!

 

[Poppy91]

That's a hen in the pic. I'd wash the wound, dry it off, if you have any wound powder I'd put that on it.
Seperate the wounded one from the rest of the flock.
Then watch for which one is the assassin and dispatch or remove it from the rest, too!

Thank you! I thought the wounded one was a male! Here is a photo of the nasty one causing all the trouble! Which I thought was also a hen!

She now is trying to brain all the other birds and they are fighting back just as nasty! Any ideas why the sudden behaviour? They where all fine coexisting before? Other then the wounded one... he/she used to be the mean one haha.

I have blu kote spray which Is for my other farm animals, I’ve never used on a bird before.. I’ll attach a pic. Let me know if it’s safe to use!

 

[mixedUPturk]

Hi sweetheart @Poppy91 welcome to BYC and quail! Quail sometimes do that flip out and wanna eat eachother thing its really sad. You might be able to help them by providing some cage enrichment. Terra cotta pots are great, tree branchs, anything to break up the line of sight. Are your birds kept on wire? A dustbath is generally needed if so. The bluecote is a good thing for Everything except Cats. Dont ever use on a cat, but the blue dye is there to help disguise a wound to keep other birds from picking at them. Often times as Sean said you have to remove the largest culprit cuz sometimes they just dont stop

 

[Little Jerry Seinfeld]

Poor hen.
Welcome to the world of the cutest-little-evil-devils ever: quail!
They are shockingly fiece little birds.
Mine go through this occasionally, for no discernable reason.
I have a 9 week old hen right now that even pecks at my hand when i feed and water!

I had one that a couple months ago tried to peck the eye out of another, both hens. Even from that injury "Igor" as shes now named, recovered well. I have had one recover from a very bad "scalping" as well- from when i tried to keep several males together. But,

Thankfully if you catch it as soon as it happens, clean and treat it, they are sturdy little creatures and recover well.

And it Sounds like you are doing everything right and I hope she recovers soon.

 

[Poppy91]

Thank you so much for all the help (and warm welcomes!!!!) I appreciate it so much!

Little update!
Injured bird is separated and seems to be more lively then ever! Stretching dust bathing eat and drinking! I removed the nasty culprit and have her alone at the moment as well since she’s decided to go all cannibal on her entire flock. Not sure what to do with her for now!

They have dust bathes, toys, pots branches and live shrubs in with them! I bring them into the basement in a large rabbit cage for the blistering cold nights/day (we have a lot of -30 nights lately!) common spring!!!!

Happy she seems to be doing well!!!! Very pleased!
I called my vet and confirmed the blu kote is okay for birds! We generally only use it on the goats and livestock!

I’m learning very quickly that quail are cheeky little devils! They make my chickens look like angels lol

 

[mixedUPturk]

Thank you so much for all the help (and warm welcomes!!!!) I appreciate it so much!

Little update!
Injured bird is separated and seems to be more lively then ever! Stretching dust bathing eat and drinking! I removed the nasty culprit and have her alone at the moment as well since she’s decided to go all cannibal on her entire flock. Not sure what to do with her for now!

They have dust bathes, toys, pots branches and live shrubs in with them! I bring them into the basement in a large rabbit cage for the blistering cold nights/day (we have a lot of -30 nights lately!) common spring!!!!

Happy she seems to be doing well!!!! Very pleased!
I called my vet and confirmed the blu kote is okay for birds! We generally only use it on the goats and livestock!

I’m learning very quickly that quail are cheeky little devils! They make my chickens look like angels lol

Your welcome were always glad when someone is here to do whats best for their flock

Thank you for the update! They are indeed tough little buggers and im glad you also have a good vet! As LJS said it sounds like your really doing everything right sometimes theyre just like that ive read the A&M are the worst and thats the only flock ive seen it happen with on my yard but possibly i just dont have enough years with the cots yet.

-30 buuuur! Id sure be glad if u let me in on those nights too but so there are only 4 total? I could see how that makes things a little more difficult for you. Im not sure if she hahas a chance at coming back to sense or a definite cull guess itll depend on how badly u want to keep her, how closely you can watch them and how she behaves after the current seperation if u give her another chance. I hope @Little Jerry Seinfeld can contribute more about their experience.

 

[Poppy91]

Thank you! I try and do what’s best but I’m still learning! And feeling those learning curve aches and pains!

Yes I have 4 adults at the moment and 12 little fuzz balls in the brooder about 2.5 wks old! Fingers crossed her time out helped

 

[Kris5902]

Tip on using the Blu Kote spray on some delicate areas (heads and faces), granted if you’re using it on your other animals you probably know already... wear gloves and spray on a dauber of some sort before applying to sensitive areas near eyes, ears, noses... especially with balky cattle and grumpy cockerels (or whatever you call baby boy quail!)

 

[007Sean]

Thank you! I thought the wounded one was a male! Here is a photo of the nasty one causing all the trouble! Which I thought was also a hen! View attachment 1706739 She now is trying to brain all the other birds and they are fighting back just as nasty! Any ideas why the sudden behaviour? They where all fine coexisting before? Other then the wounded one... he/she used to be the mean one haha.

I have blu kote spray which Is for my other farm animals, I’ve never used on a bird before.. I’ll attach a pic. Let me know if it’s safe to use! View attachment 1706740

Blue kote is ok to use on birds. I prefer wound powder as it helps to stop the bleeding....but it will work.