Quail has a stiff leg

[Gezellige_Poes]

Another thread with video with comments that mention the same things, low on electrolytes and head injury.

https://www.reddit.com/r/quails/comments/zemtla/whats_wrong_with_my_coturnix_cant_stand_and_keeps

 

[Susan Skylark]

So sorry to hear things have rather deteriorated. Is she still eating and drinking? She may have ataxia... I found this online, and there is a video that describes what appears to be happening to your peep. Could you take a look at the video and let us know?

https://www.merckvetmanual.com/poul...is/avian-encephalomyelitis#Diagnosis_v3343576

This is unlikely the cause, but neurological signs are pretty generic. If you read the article it is passed from the parents and affects 4 week old chicks or is spread from infected birds to other birds, to which this bird has not been exposed. Symptoms are similar but unlike to be infectious in etiology.

 

[KAZINO]

So sorry to hear things have rather deteriorated. Is she still eating and drinking? She may have ataxia... I found this online, and there is a video that describes what appears to be happening to your peep. Could you take a look at the video and let us know?

https://www.merckvetmanual.com/poul...is/avian-encephalomyelitis#Diagnosis_v3343576

I tried to open the link but it says I'm unauthorised or something. Also she's eating but not drinking as much. She's breathing from her mouth at the moment

 

[KAZINO]

Another thread with video with comments that mention the same things, low on electrolytes and head injury.

https://www.reddit.com/r/quails/comments/zemtla/whats_wrong_with_my_coturnix_cant_stand_and_keeps

That's exactly what's she's doing right now, but I don't think she's hit her head recently unless it was when it first happened, does it happen gradually? because if so this might be it

 

[KAZINO]

Here is thread from this site with some helpful information (ignore the "processing" part, as I in no way recommend such an action!). The main thing is the ping ponging that quail do. I have an 8 foor high aviary, and my quail nearly reach the top when they ping pong. Yours may have hit her head ping ponging...?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/quail-not-standing-good-falling-over.929143/

Haven't heard of ping ponging before but that sounds very much like when my quails jump around and chase eachother

 

[KAZINO]

Is the leg stiff and won’t move or is it floppy and not stiff at all? Progressive loss of ability to feel or control tail/bladder/rectum/legs implies some sort of damage! Inflammation or atrophy of the spinal nerves. Injury can cause complete paralysis of the back legs (common in dachshunds and pasture bred cattle) which may resolve with rest and time. But gradual and progressive onset, especially in an older animal (like a two year old quail) has a poor prognosis as it is usually a progressive degeneration of the spinal nerves for various reasons (cancer, genetics, age related). Good nursing care can prolong life but in the case of an egg laying hen, she’s at high risk of getting egg bound or possibly vent prolapse, you might also want to limit light exposure to 8 hours a day to stop laying.

One leg is stiff and the other moves around but she doesn't seem to feel it, she also isn't laying eggs at the moment, she's just getting poop stuck that ends up looking like she has an egg

 

[KAZINO]

The same quail I had made a thread about before, I had taken to the vet and it didn't get better or worse but recently she has not been able to use the leg at all, it's gone completely stiff and looks a bit thinner than the other aswell as what I think are veins not where they should be in the foot and leg. Her food is fine, as all the other quails eat the same and have no issues. I'm not sure what happened in the first place but at the top of the leg it was red and scabby, it's healed a little recently but she can't even move the leg. Does anyone know if it could be an illness or an age thing, she's just over 2 years old. (I'll try to get pictures if I can but it's hard to see the foot and leg because she puts the other one over it when I pick her up)

She's passed away, but thank you all for the help. It'll be good for future reference.

 

[Gezellige_Poes]

She's passed away, but thank you all for the help. It'll be good for future reference.

Awwww, so sorry for your loss. You and your little peep fought the good fight.

 

[Gezellige_Poes]

I've been active on another thread with a tiny baby chick with leg issues and one posted referenced this page in the Merck Vet Manual:

https://www.merckvetmanual.com/poul...,-Osteomalacia,-Cage-Layer-Fatigue)_v99421686

There is a pic of a hen that looks like what may have happened to your peep. Your peep may have had layer fatigue. I have both button and Coturnix quail and they are fed chick starter their entire lives. This feed is formulated with the right ratio between calcium and phosphorus, and has Vit D3. Plus a high level of protein they need.