Quail Knowledge Base

Cause: Eimeria protozoa (multiple species affect quail)

Transmission: Ingestion of sporulated oocysts from contaminated droppings, feed, or water

Symptoms:

• Bloody or mucoid droppings (most reliable sign)
• Ruffled feathers, hunched posture
• Weight loss, reduced appetite
• Lethargy, isolation from flock
• Pale comb/wattles (anemia)

Treatment: Amprolium (Corid) 20% soluble powder at 2 tsp per gallon of water for 5–7 days. Alternatively, sulfadimethoxine in water.

Prevention:

• Add coccidiostat to starter feed (amprolium, monensin, or lasalocid)
• Keep brooder dry — change bedding every 2–3 days
• Never allow chicks access to adult bird droppings
• Clean waterers daily to prevent oocyst contamination

Warning: Some coccidiostats safe for chickens (e.g., certain ionophores) are toxic to quail. Always use quail-approved medications.

Timeline: Incubation 4–7 days. Treatment response visible within 48–72 hours. Full recovery in 7–10 days if caught early.

Cause: Aspergillus fumigatus fungus

Transmission: Inhalation of fungal spores from moldy feed, bedding, or litter

Symptoms:

• Labored breathing, open-mouth breathing
• Rales (rattling sounds when breathing)
• Weight loss despite normal appetite
• Lazy, hunched posture
• Sudden death in acute cases

Treatment: Difficult to treat once established. Antifungal medications (nystatin, amphotericin B) may help in early cases. Prevention is far more effective than treatment.

Prevention:

• Never use moldy feed or bedding
• Store feed in dry, sealed containers
• Ensure good ventilation to reduce moisture
• Clean brooders thoroughly between batches

Cause: Calcium deficiency, oversized eggs, stress, obesity, or reproductive tract issues

Symptoms:

• Straining, sitting on cage floor
• Swollen, distended abdomen
• Loss of appetite, lethargy
• Wide stance, difficulty walking
• Can be fatal within hours if untreated

Treatment (emergency):

1. Soak hen in warm water (100°F) for 15–20 minutes to relax muscles
2. Gently massage abdomen toward the vent
3. Apply calcium gluconate orally or by injection (0.5ml of 10% solution)
4. Place in a warm, dark, quiet isolation box with food and water
5. If egg is visible in vent, apply olive oil and gently assist delivery

Prevention:

• Provide free-choice oyster shell at all times for layers
• Ensure adequate vitamin D3 (sunlight or supplements)
• Collect eggs 2–3 times daily to reduce pressure
• Maintain proper calcium:phosphorus ratio (2:1 for layers)

Cause: Salmonella pullorum bacteria

Transmission: Vertical (through eggs from infected hens), contaminated environment

Symptoms:

• White, pasty diarrhea around vent (classic sign)
• Huddling near heat source
• Decreased appetite, weakness
• High chick mortality (20–100% in first 2 weeks)
• Adult carriers show no symptoms but shed bacteria

Treatment: Antibiotics (gentamicin, ampicillin) may reduce mortality but do not eliminate carriers. Infected flocks should be culled and premises thoroughly disinfected.

Prevention:

• Purchase only from NPIP-tested, pullorum-free flocks
• Test new birds before introducing to your flock
• Incubate eggs from tested flocks only
• Disinfect incubators and brooders between batches