Young quail has been scalped and eye is badly damaged. Wound smells bad.

[MelissaRose]

Hello all!
I have four coturnix quail living in a brooder about too move to their hutch but haven't yet. They are five weeks old. This morning I noticed on of them had red on the back of its head and I picked up and noticed that all of the skin on the back of its head is gone and one of it's eyes is bleeding and damaged it's wound also smells a little bad. I dont know how long it's been like this. I just noticed today. I cleaned the brooder a few days ago and it was fine so this happened after that. Please help me save my quailie it was the first one to hatch and these are my first quail so it's pretty special. I don't think a vet is an option but if it really comes down to that I might be able to find a way to make it work Please help. I feel horrible I don't know how it happened. I don't see blood anywhere in the brooder but I havn't looked at the other quail to see if they might have pecked it.
Any help is awesome. I have it under a heat lamp by its self right now it walks if I pick it up or touch it but otherwise it just sort of stands there with its head sort of to one side. Sorry if this doesn't make sense or if there are typos I wrote this as fast as I could. I can answer any questions or post more pictures.Sorry if I posted any picture more than one I did it fast.
Thank you for any help

 

[MelissaRose]

Please HELP! Something is wrong with it it holds its head sort of funny.
What can I do to make it more comfortable, should I wash it's head?

 

[le_bwah]

Wowzers, poor thing! At five weeks, the quail will be entering "puberty" and aggression can be high—this is one of the reasons most people try to move quail out of the brooder at or before four weeks.

I've never dealt with a wound like that before, but I'm positive someone here has. Until you know what to do with the wound, keep the bird warm (not hot), sheltered, and hydrated—bird-safe electrolytes in their water would go a long way to keeping fluid levels up.

Also, consider cross-posting to the emergencies forum here. They might be able to help you quicker.

 

[MelissaRose]

Wowzers, poor thing! At five weeks, the quail will be entering "puberty" and aggression can be high—try to move quail out of the brooder at or before 4 weeks.

I've never dealt with a wound like that before, but I'm positive someone here has. Until you know what to do with the wound, keep the bird warm (not hot), sheltered, and hydrated—bird-safe electrolytes in their water would go a long way to keeping fluid levels up.

Also, consider cross-posting to the emergencies forum here. They might be able to help you quicker.

Where can I get bird safe electrolytes? Or what can I use is there anything I might have around the house? I'm not sure if the quail will drink or not.
Thank you for your help.

 

[le_bwah]

Electrolytes for human babies are okay for quail short-term (iron content can be an issue long-term). Any store that sells chicken feed should sell electrolytes for birds, too.

Honestly, I'm really not sure how the bird will regrow its entire scalp. And with a damaged eye, it'll be at a disadvantage in the flock. Plus, it's got to be experiencing a lot of pain and fear right now. Be prepared to lose it, but also be prepared to be the one to do it in later if the wound doesn't show signs of improvement. The earlier you can mentally prepare for that possibility, the less awful it will be.

 

[chkva]

You can make homemade electrolytes

https://www.fresheggsdaily.com/2017/05/how-to-make-homemade-electrolytes-for.html?m=1

 

[MelissaRose]

Thanks for the link. I will make some of that because I don't have baby electrolytes.

 

[MelissaRose]

I am prepared to lose it but want to do everything in my power to save it and will only put it down if it is suffering and will not recover. I am willing to take the time to help it.

 

[Willowspirit]

@007Sean poor quail!

 

[MelissaRose]

It's wound is getting dry because its under the heat lamp is this ok? It can get away from the heat but has the option of standing under it.
I am mixing up some electrolytes right now from the recipe @chkva gave to link to.