subdued button quail

emessis · Post by **emessis** » Mon Aug 25, 2008 2:32 am

Hullo all,

I'm new to the forum and don't currently own finches (have in the past), but I do keep button quail. I've seen a bit posted on them here, but I just wanted to see if anyone would have some good advice or recommendations about what I can do for one of my males.

For the past few days he has been acting slightly ill, hunkering down and closing his eyes while the other four go about their usual running, pecking, and exploring. I know that the fact he's showing any signs at all can mean he's worse off than I think, but he doesn't seem to have gotten visibly worse since I first noticed anything was up. On the second day I put a 60W heat lamp over one corner of the enclosure and covered that half of the enclosure with towels. The light stays on day and night, since the others are not perturbed by it and I'd rather keep the temp a bit raised for my male.

I considered trying to quarantine him, but there's nowhere I can put him that will be out of earshot of his companions, and he will call for them (and vice versa). I tried it out briefly and he went nuts, bopping all over the place trying to fly out of the quarantine box. Besides that, they do seem to be providing some comfort/warmth for him...I've seen them huddling over him a number of times, all dozing.

So...all that being said, is there anything else I could be doing to help this little guy out?

mickp · Post by **mickp** » Tue Aug 26, 2008 5:24 am

just let nature run its course, he will either survive or not.
I know thats not what you wanted to hear but I cant think of anything else

NDan · Post by **NDan** » Tue Aug 26, 2008 10:54 am

Sounds like you are doing what you can. I would think there are antibiotics you can give quail also but I'm not up on it. I would check with the yahoo group ButtonQuailUSA and see if anyone there can help. They are active breeders.
Good luck!

emessis · Post by **emessis** » Tue Aug 26, 2008 6:26 pm

Thank you both for responding. I know he may not make it, but I'd like to do what I can in the meantime. I'll definitely check out the Yahoo group, thanks NDan!

Post by **Hilary** » Thu Aug 28, 2008 10:08 pm

So how is he doing?

emessis · Post by **emessis** » Fri Aug 29, 2008 12:34 pm

Actually seems to be pepping up, happily.

He never got any worse than what I described and just yesterday was starting to run around more with the others.

mickp · Post by **mickp** » Sat Aug 30, 2008 3:10 am

am glad to hear he has improved. hopefully it wont be to long and he'll be plucking feathers out of the females as he tries to hold on