Quail diseases and their treatment. Quail breeding at home for beginners

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

Unlike other birds, quails get sick less. They have one feature - the body temperature is 2 ° C higher than normal. Such an environment is not suitable for the favorable development of disease-causing microorganisms. However, do not relax. Some measures to prevent negative he alth factors must be taken.

What to do?

When sick, quails must be provided with the right treatment to maintain egg production and meat production. And this does not depend on the pathology of the disease. It is known that all diseases of quails, as well as other birds in the household, can be non-contagious and contagious.

To avoid infection of the entire livestock, certain rules must be followed:

• keep quails of different ages separately;
• observe temperature and desired humidity;
• quails are kept separately from other poultry;
• cells and rooms are a mustclean regularly and disinfect inventory;
• drinkers and feeders should always be clean, they must be washed;
• only high quality food;
• Drinking water should only be clean.

What other things to consider?

To avoid illness, quails should not be subjected to any stress. These birds have a very excitable nervous system.

It is important not only to take preventive measures, but also to identify the disease in time, while it is at an early stage. A sick bird can be seen by the following external criteria:

• behaviour;
• skin;
• feather condition.

How to identify the disease?

He althy individual is energetic and mobile, has a normal appetite, smooth feathers that shine. In case of illness, quails do not stand well on their feet, they always want to sit down, and their feathers are disheveled. When the ailment has struck only one bird, then she tries, ruffled, to sit in the corner of the cage and close her eyes. At the first such signs, the quail is isolated. Such a bird needs a mandatory examination by a veterinarian.

Infectious diseases of quails pass from one bird to another. So it can make the whole livestock sick if you do not take action. Non-contagious ailments include injuries, digestive disorders due to eating disorders.

A he althy quail (pictured below) can contract infectious or invasive diseases from other individuals, through food, water and airborne droplets. It so happens thatonly a purchased bird becomes a carrier of the disease. Therefore, when acquiring a new pet, you need to be very careful.

Caution! A common ailment dangerous to humans

Among the most common contagious diseases is the psittacosis virus. He is very dangerous. A sick quail (photo below) is very sleepy, dirty and disheveled. Even humans can be infected with the virus. If you notice the first symptoms, you should immediately call the veterinarian.

This is not a common disease in the poultry industry. Pigeons and parrots are more likely to suffer from it. Ducks and turkeys are at risk. However, quails can also get sick under certain conditions. Therefore, every farmer should know about bird psittacosis and how to deal with it.

Other names for this disease: chlamydia, neoryketsiosis, psitaccosis, parrot fever. The infection affects the internal organs, nervous and reproductive systems, eyes, lymphatic vessels. The relevant authorities are necessarily notified of its occurrence.

A disease you won't see right away

One of the most dangerous is Newcastle disease. Symptoms are not always immediately visible, and the disease develops so quickly that the bird dies within a few hours. The acute and rapid course of the disease complicates the treatment. Individuals become infected through droppings, water, food, inventory. Spreaders can be waterfowl, rats and dogs. What Newcastle disease looks like in quails can be seen in the photo.

The diseased quail has difficulty breathing, does not eat well and is very sleepy. Mucus is secreted from the beak. Birds showing these signs should be isolated immediately. She needs vet help.

Threat for little chicks

An infectious disease called "bird pullorosis" most often affects quails. They die from this disease. It is characterized by a sharp rise in temperature. The provocateur of the disease is poor-quality food. A sick chick is sleepy. He can close his eyes and stand with his head down. It happens that he falls and immediately jumps up. You can watch the picture of how the chicks lie on their chest, hide in a corner, squeak and tremble. Sick birds are sent for slaughter. The cage with inventory must be disinfected.

If a farmer does not have a veterinary education, then you should not rely on luck and save on veterinary services. All quail diseases and their treatment must be diagnosed and accompanied by a specialist! Otherwise, there is a big risk of losing the entire poultry population quickly.

Other diseases

Among diseases there is also colibacillosis. This is an infection caused by Escherichia coli. Infected chicks have a blue beak, vilify, and their feathers stick together near the cloaca. A veterinarian can determine the exact diagnosis. Treatment requires antibiotics. As in other cases, sick individuals are isolated. The inventory cage is being disinfected.

Such common diseases of adult quails as helminthiasis and aspergillosis,all farmers know. In the first case, the bird is affected by syngamustrachea worms. In sick individuals, shortness of breath and cough are observed. Treatment is carried out with the drug "Thiobendazole". Young growth must be isolated from the adult population of birds. Aspergillosis is a fungal disease. Affected birds drink a lot, they have general weakness and shortness of breath. In addition, the quail's paws and beak may turn blue. It is necessary to treat only after consulting a veterinarian and an accurate diagnosis of the disease!

Another acute infectious disease is pasteurellosis. It occurs when a pathogen enters the bloodstream. There is a failure in the metabolic system, the liver begins to work poorly. If you do not carry out treatment, then a fatal outcome is possible, since the development of sepsis will begin. The main symptom of the disease is emptying with blood. Sick birds are isolated, and the rest are sent to quarantine. Cages with inventory are being disinfected.

Salmonellosis is a well-known disease. Birds become infected through droppings, water or eating eggs infected with pathogens. Signs: conjunctivitis, intestinal upset, lack of coordination, general weakness and drowsiness. The disease can begin to develop in a nerve-paralytic form. Then there is inflammation of the joints and wings. Sick livestock is slaughtered. But! You can't eat them! Places of detention and equipment are being disinfected.

Consequences of poor feeding

The non-contagious diseases of quails include beriberi. They are provoked by malnutrition. It can also cause cracking. This is the same cannibalism. And drafts with low humidity will becomecausing baldness as the birds begin to lose their feathers.

Very common diseases such as violation of physiology, rickets, violation of the formation of eggshells. The provoking factor is the lack of vitamin D, calcium and minerals. When ill, quails begin to lay eggs with or without a soft, thin shell, with an undershell film.

Often this disease affects birds, which are kept in a place that is not well lit by the sun. However, do not forget that the increased content of calcium also affects he alth negatively.

To maintain the normal condition of the bird, its diet must contain the necessary amount of minerals, fish and whale oil. Quails are given chalk, crushed shells and egg shells, fodder yeast, dry legume grass, and food concentrates. The bird must be walking in the sunlight.

How to start breeding quails at home?

For novice farmers, first of all, it is necessary to adequately assess the conditions in which it is planned to keep the bird. This type of activity is considered profitable, but if the conditions of detention are inadequate, then the risk of losing livestock is very high. Then there will be losses. In principle, it is possible to grow quails in the country, in private houses and even in apartments. The bird does not take up much space, eats little feed, but has a high egg productivity.

In the process of domestication, female quails almost lost the instinct of incubation. Therefore, they deduceyoung animals are mostly in incubators. Bantam hens often become hens. Sometimes they lay eggs for pigeons.

You can buy an incubator or make your own. Sometimes they take an ordinary chicken egg incubator and adjust it for quail eggs. Requirements are:

• rotate eggs automatically;
• stable temperature 37-39°C.

Chicken incubators: "Universal", "Natka", "IPH" are suitable for quail. Breeding and feeding this bird, in principle, is not difficult. But in the case of using chicken incubators, you need to consider that they contain up to 6 times more quail eggs than chickens.

The result of hatching depends on the quality of the eggs initially. It is better to have specimens from young females. These are individuals from 2 to 8 months. From older females, eggs are eaten. They check the youth of the egg on the ovoscope.

For fertilization, females are placed with males 1:2 or 1:4. You can just put the female to the male for a few minutes, then change it to the next one. This mode of fertilization will give 80% success rate. If free mating occurs, then the number of fertilized eggs will be less.

For permanent fertilization, males and females use a maximum of three months. Eggs of the correct form, clean, with a smooth shell, without pigmentation are selected for incubation. Dirty can be a source of infection. It happens that they are washed with a solution of potassium permanganate, dried and then placed in an incubator. Very round, elongated eggs are not used for hatching, as they may be defective.

When checkingwith an ovoscope, you need to reject those that have an too large air chamber, a displaced yolk glued to the shell, two yolks and spots inside.

When this bird is bred at home, a cage for 10 quails is considered ideal - no more!

Eggs for breeding young animals in an incubator are stored for no more than 7 days. It is important to maintain the right temperature and humidity. It depends on the incubation period:

• 1-15th day - 36.6-37.7 degrees dry bulb. Humidity - 60%.
• 16-17th day before pecking - 37.02-37.5 degrees. Humidity - 48% (when pecking).
• Humidity 67-92% at output.

Containment location

Typically cages are made for 10, 20 or 30 quails. If we are talking about 10 birds, then the dimensions of the cage should be 30 × 75 cm and 25 × 60 cm. The size of the cages must be chosen depending on the size of the birds.

They shouldn't fall on the floor. The design of the cage is thought out in such a way that there is no mold and dampness. Otherwise, the he alth of pets will suffer. The material for the cage can be taken different. This is wood, plastic, mesh or plywood. The main thing is to observe hygiene and all conditions of detention.

A cell consists of:

• frame;
• gender;
• door;
• drinkers;
• feeders;
• egg collecting tray;
• manure tank.

In order to save space, it is allowed to put cages on top of each other. It will look like a kind of cellular battery. Certainly, this is possible withmatching shapes and sizes. Fasten the houses with wire. No need to make a battery consisting of more than three tiers. The first design should be no less than 10-30 cm from the floor.

The frame can be made of wood, reinforcement. The walls can be made of mesh. Its diameter should not allow the bird to get out. Quails are small birds, so you can take a chain-link of small diameter.

Cages for laying hens are equipped with a bottom located at an angle of 7-8 degrees to the drinker. The eggs must go into the egg bin.

Remember! The movement of the bird should not be constrained. An adult male feels comfortable in an area of approximately 100 cm². Accordingly, a cage of 1 m² will accommodate 75 quails.

Ideal if the egg collector, feeder and drinker are made of durable plastic. Any plastic container can be easily adapted to the tanks. Sheet iron is suitable for the litter tray. It is important not to forget that all materials have a lifespan.

Ventilation is provided by recesses. Air gets in through them. Lighting and temperature can be maintained with lamps that are installed according to needs. Heat and light can also enter through wall recesses.

If there are 50 quails, then the minimum cage should be 75×150 cm for the parent flock and 60×120 cm for egg and meat breeds.

Certainly profitable quail breeding at home. For beginners and experienced farmers, it is important to be equally diligent about the work begun. When business is consideredseriously and comply with all the rules of poultry keeping, it will bring good profit. It must be remembered that although this bird will serve as food for a person, it is still a living creature. Her life will be short, we must treat her humanely and create proper conditions of detention. It is impossible to place birds in cages so that they have nowhere to turn around. Hygiene is a must, even if these birds are exclusively bred for sale.