Content
Quails are among the most unpretentious and low-maintenance birds. They are naturally endowed with fairly strong immunity and can tolerate minor mistakes in care. But even such persistent birds can get sick. Most often, quail diseases are associated with systematic violation of care conditions, various injuries and infectious diseases. Conventionally, all diseases of these birds can be divided into contagious and non-contagious. Below we will look at common quail diseases and their treatment.
Non-communicable diseases
Non-contagious diseases of quails are a consequence of their improper maintenance, violation of the feeding regime, and also the result of injuries received. Each of these reasons entails certain health problems for these birds, which we will discuss below.
Violation of containment conditions
Before raising quails, you need to take care of their future home. There should be no drafts or dry, musty air. Signals that the conditions are not suitable for the birds will be isolated bald patches and focal loss of feathers from the head or back. If birds remain in unsuitable conditions for a long time, then all their plumage will become brittle.Eliminating drafts and creating optimal air humidity for quails will help correct the situation.
In addition to problems with the poultry house, the health of birds is also affected by their numbers. If the house is small and there are a lot of birds in it, then they may start pecking at each other. This, in turn, leads to various injuries and death.
Violation of feeding regime
The main cause of non-contagious diseases is poor or improper nutrition of quails. As a result of a lack of useful vitamins, these birds develop persistent vitamin deficiencies. The following symptoms are an indicator of a lack of nutrients:
- loss of appetite;
- throwing back the head;
- neck stretching;
- lowering the wings;
- ruffled feathers.
The occurrence of any of these symptoms indicates a lack of nutrients in the quail’s diet. You can treat it yourself, without involving a veterinarian. To do this, you just need to create a balanced feed for quails. You can learn how to do this correctly from the video:
Quails are egg-laying birds, so when planning their diet, you need to pay special attention to vitamins D, calcium and minerals. If birds lack these substances, the shells of their eggs will become soft and brittle, or even absent altogether. Adding crushed eggshells, chalk or shells to the quail's food will help cope with this problem.
This happens when young chicks begin to be fed food for adults.Such food provokes early oviposition in them, which can result in the loss of the egg along the oviduct. To prevent this from happening, birds of different ages must be provided with different nutrition, which will take into account their age-related needs.
Injuries
Injuries among quails are not uncommon. They can occur as a result of fright, sudden stress, or birds pecking at each other. If an injury occurs, the bird must be given first aid. If this is a shallow wound, then it should be treated with iodine, a solution of potassium permanganate or furatsilin and bandaged well. If bones or limbs are broken, it is better to show the bird to a veterinarian.
Contagious diseases
The source of infectious diseases in quails are various infections. The main danger of such diseases lies in the speed of their spread. One sick bird is enough to significantly reduce the number of quails.
Preventing contagious diseases is much easier than treating them. As a measure to prevent such diseases, containers with soda or chlorine can be installed in the poultry house. The use of ultraviolet lamps shows good results in the prevention of diseases.
Therefore, when breeding quails, care must be taken to ensure that there is no contact between them.
Below we will look at the most common contagious diseases of quail.
Newcastle disease
Many quail breeds have innate immunity to this disease, but this does not prevent them from being its carriers.Individuals of other breeds die within 2-3 hours when infected.
Sick birds move little and sit with their heads covered by their wings. From the outside they look sleepy, lethargic and lost. Their breathing becomes heavy and they also experience coughing attacks.
During the period of exacerbation of the disease, the birds rise sharply and begin to walk in circles. Seizures and attacks of increased excitability are possible.
The carriers of this disease are rats, cats and various poultry. Sick birds must be killed and the carcasses burned. It is strictly prohibited to use carcasses or eggs of birds infected with Newcastle disease for food.
Pullorosis
Pullorosis usually affects young quails. With this disease, droppings clog the birds' anus without coming out. Sick quail chicks huddle in a corner, tremble and squeak. They become drowsy, often fall, and their motor activity decreases sharply.
The causes of pullorosis in quails are:
- hypothermia of chicks;
- bad food;
- lack of drinking water.
Pullorosis cannot be treated. Individuals affected by the disease should be burned to prevent other chicks from becoming infected.
Aspergillosis
A very common disease not only among quails, but also among other poultry. Adults suffer from aspergillosis asymptomatically. Sick chicks are weak, their legs and beaks turn blue, and their breathing becomes heavy. This disease also causes severe thirst.
This disease can be diagnosed only after a post-mortem examination of the quail's entrails. Fungus will be visible on the insides of a sick bird.You should not eat the carcass of a sick quail.
Colibacillosis
This intestinal disease of quails is similar in its symptoms to pullorosis. Quail will also be lethargic and shaky. But unlike pullorosis, which is isolated in nature, this disease can develop to epidemic proportions.
Individuals infected with this disease are subject to necrosis. Their carcasses and eggs should be burned.
After this, they should be vaccinated. Complete disinfection of the poultry house is also mandatory.
Avian cholera
This disease is also known as pasteurellosis. The infection attacks the quail's liver, causing metabolic dysfunction and loose bloody droppings.
Avian cholera does not respond to treatment, so it always ends in the death of the affected individual. To prevent the spread of the disease, the carcass is burned, and the poultry house and cages are completely disinfected.
Conclusion
Regardless of whether the bird disease is infectious or the health problems of quails arose as a result of poor living conditions, all the blame lies with humans. It is the breeder who is responsible for his birds. Therefore, before deciding to breed quails, you need to sensibly assess your chances of creating comfortable conditions for them.
