Worms??

[Hils]

I doubt this is worms, rarely do birds looks so tattered from internal parasites. Do they have access to grass and dirt? Caged quail rarely get worm overloads. We are coming up on molting season. Are there feathers laying around? Any aggression from the others pulling feathers? What is their main diet?

Also...Yes there are feathers about but only noticed these recently... is it just the males that pull feathers out?

 

[TwoCrows]

Also...Yes there are feathers about but only noticed these recently... is it just the males that pull feathers out?

Do you have a photo you can post here? Is it just the females that look ratty?

 

[Hils]

Do you have a photo you can post here? Is it just the females that look ratty?

Sorry Two Crows but I don't have a smart phone.

 

[TwoCrows]

Sorry Two Crows but I don't have a smart phone.

Is it just the females that look bad? And are the feathers worn over their backs?

 

[Hils]

Is it just the females that look bad? And are the feathers worn over their backs?

Yes just the females, the Old Girls, only about 10 months old actually. And yes mostly on their backs but also a bit round the neck. Any idea how long it would take to regrow if it was initially acquired from over breeding? When I got my four new 6 week old girls one of them was TOTALLY bald on her back but within about 6 weeks was completely re-feathered. Maybe an old lady takes longer to regrow?

 

[TwoCrows]

Yes just the females, the Old Girls, only about 10 months old actually. And yes mostly on their backs but also a bit round the neck. Any idea how long it would take to regrow if it was initially acquired from over breeding? When I got my four new 6 week old girls one of them was TOTALLY bald on her back but within about 6 weeks was completely re-feathered. Maybe an old lady takes longer to regrow?

Sounds like over breeding from the past. Are these Coturnix quail? If there aren't enough females for one male, females get way over bred, breaking all the feathers on the backs and necks. Males are extremely active in this department. The correct ratio is 1 roo to 8 or so hens. Your birds should be molting soon and will replace all these rough feathers then. Feathers don't repair, only molt out and regrow. I think they will look great after a good molt!

 

[Hils]

Sounds like over breeding from the past. Are these Coturnix quail? If there aren't enough females for one male, females get way over bred, breaking all the feathers on the backs and necks. Males are extremely active in this department. The correct ratio is 1 roo to 8 or so hens. Your birds should be molting soon and will replace all these rough feathers then. Feathers don't repair, only molt out and regrow. I think they will look great after a good molt!

I believe they are Coturnix quail. I acquired 3 males and 3 females by chance as I agreed to feed and water them for a week, but their owner was then locked down in Germany due to Coronavirus. I then brought them home knowing absolutely nothing about poultry! I got four extra females and have tried to integrate. But I ended up taking away the old girls as they were looking worn. One of the original six, a speckled black beauty, I thought was a female, but it has never laid an egg, no foam either, and I have never seen it mating with any females: It has also been attacked quite severely firstly by a male, and a couple of months later by a female, maybe it's a hermaphrodite or barren? I keep it with one female now. One day I will get a smart phone and post his/her picture! Many thanks for all your advice.

 

[TwoCrows]

I believe they are Coturnix quail. I acquired 3 males and 3 females by chance as I agreed to feed and water them for a week, but their owner was then locked down in Germany due to Coronavirus. I then brought them home knowing absolutely nothing about poultry! I got four extra females and have tried to integrate. But I ended up taking away the old girls as they were looking worn. One of the original six, a speckled black beauty, I thought was a female, but it has never laid an egg, no foam either, and I have never seen it mating with any females: It has also been attacked quite severely firstly by a male, and a couple of months later by a female, maybe it's a hermaphrodite or barren? I keep it with one female now. One day I will get a smart phone and post his/her picture! Many thanks for all your advice.

Good luck with your quail! Sounds like you are doing a wonderful job with them!