Urgent help

[Nabiki]

Eating is a good sign. I would keep her in a warm, dim environment for another day or two to observe her, though.

 

[Susan Skylark]

Did she bonk her head? Stuck on side, can’t get up, leg paddling, loss of bowel control, difficulty swallowing can all be neurological signs secondary to head or neck trauma. A nutritional issue is possible (polioencaphamalicia from thiamine deficiency for example) but is more likely to present in young fast growing animals or affect multiple animals. In an older bird you also need to consider stroke and tumor. Infectious disease and toxin are possible but again you need a source and usually multiple birds are affected. Her gaseous noises may be secondary to aspiration from getting water down her lungs while spoon feeding, which may also be the reason she’s open mouth breathing. Something like mineral oil will cause severe pneumonia but hopefully the sugar water only causes a transitory breathing issue. I’d use an eye dropper or small syringe to give her a drop at a time in the corner of her beak, making sure she swallows before giving another. Good nursing care may get her through a traumatic injury, if she gradually gets better that’s great but if there is no improvement within a couple weeks she’s not going to get better. Prognosis for tumor or blood clot is poor. Sadly there isn’t a good option for anti inflammatory drugs in quail. Keeping her hydrated, move her from side to side, limit stress and movement, keep bedding deep and clean, and see if you can get her to eat are your best options, and give her some time.

 

[Stumars]

Did she bonk her head? Stuck on side, can’t get up, leg paddling, loss of bowel control, difficulty swallowing can all be neurological signs secondary to head or neck trauma. A nutritional issue is possible (polioencaphamalicia from thiamine deficiency for example) but is more likely to present in young fast growing animals or affect multiple animals. In an older bird you also need to consider stroke and tumor. Infectious disease and toxin are possible but again you need a source and usually multiple birds are affected. Her gaseous noises may be secondary to aspiration from getting water down her lungs while spoon feeding, which may also be the reason she’s open mouth breathing. Something like mineral oil will cause severe pneumonia but hopefully the sugar water only causes a transitory breathing issue. I’d use an eye dropper or small syringe to give her a drop at a time in the corner of her beak, making sure she swallows before giving another. Good nursing care may get her through a traumatic injury, if she gradually gets better that’s great but if there is no improvement within a couple weeks she’s not going to get better. Prognosis for tumor or blood clot is poor. Sadly there isn’t a good option for anti inflammatory drugs in quail. Keeping her hydrated, move her from side to side, limit stress and movement, keep bedding deep and clean, and see if you can get her to eat are your best options, and give her some time.

Hi, thank you. She drank well this morning. No more wierd noises from her but she is still not standing up or moving her legs. When i inspected her legs she did twitch them and move them up or down but not enough to take her weight.

She is also very pissed off with being given water, keeps turning and glaring at me between each drop!

 

[FatherFalcon]

Hi, thank you. She drank well this morning. No more wierd noises from her but she is still not standing up or moving her legs. When i inspected her legs she did twitch them and move them up or down but not enough to take her weight.

She is also very pissed off with being given water, keeps turning and glaring at me between each drop!

Try the Egg yolk, Terracotta Copper Water and Fresh Greek Oregano...! Sun Light...!

 

[Stumars]

Try the Egg yolk, Terracotta Copper Water and Fresh Greek Oregano...! Sun Light...!

Cooked or raw egg yolk ?

 

[FatherFalcon]

Cooked or raw egg yolk ?

lightly scramble... (I give raw to the roos....)

 

[Gezellige_Poes]

Hi

Blue is a 3 year old female Japanese quail.

Yesterday I found her laying on her side.
She can move her legs but just falls over.

She is drinking via spoon but not eating.
She is still laying eggs in her condition and is still her normal self. Looking around and talking to us.

Other than spoon feeding her water what can I do to help her recover?

Gosh, so sorry to read this! I know how distressing this is, having gone through this with several chickens and quail as well. No outward signs of any illness whatsoever and from one day to the next, not walking anymore.

In any case, I think the supportive care you are giving her is the best you can do for her. You can also create your own Pedialyte: Boil 1C water with 1/8tsp salt (I use sea salt), stir in 1tsp sugar (I use raw honey), make sure the liquid is cooled before administering. Be careful syringe feeding to make sure it doesn't go down the windpipe! A drop at a time to the side of the beak, let it run in, or put the tip of her beak in the liquid. Keep in fridge for a week, heat up when before using.

The gassy stuff could be that she was kind of blocked somewhere along the way and it's loosening up. Here is a thread explaining how to administer an olive oil enema: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/help-how-do-i-do-an-olive-oil-enema.950350/. I have personally done this for a quail, was actually not involved at all. Using a 1Cc syringe, draw up a little oil, carefully insert the tip, dispense. It will not hurt her. You can try very gently massaging her belly. This is just as idea, as you don't know exactly what is wrong with her. If she is in fact impacted, you could also prepare an epsom salt bath, dissolve some epsom salts in warm water and gentle lower her bottom into the bath, holding her at all times, very gently massaging. They are such delicate little peeps, so everything: Very Gentle handling to avoid bruising...

Dehydration is a real possibility. My quail are avid drinkers. I always have lactated ringers on hand for subq care, and this needs to be done with extreme care to make sure the needle is inserted in exactly the right places to avoid hitting air sacs. Hopefully she is willing to take in liquids of some kind or through purified feed.

Good luck with your little peep!

 

[Nabiki]

Cooked or raw egg yolk ?

I usually boil the egg then crush up the egg yolk. Scrambled works too, but definitely cooked.

 

[Stumars]

I usually boil the egg then crush up the egg yolk. Scrambled works too, but definitely cooked.

So. She is now eating well, drinking. Alert. No mouth breathing.
She isn't flapping her wings or standing though....

 

[Nabiki]

So. She is now eating well, drinking. Alert. No mouth breathing.
She isn't flapping her wings or standing though....

Give it another day or two. If it can't stand by then, you will have the difficult choice of continuing to care for it in hopes that it improves or to cull. Quail normally recover quite quickly.