My quail was injured. Why is she falling forward when she walks?

Since it is progressing, he should be examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating birds. Injury, nutritional deficiency and infection (bacterial, fungal or viral) are all possibilities. A complete physical exam and diagnostics may result in a diagnosis. Supportive care may also be indicated.

Hello! If your female bird is trying to escape your male bird, I would recommend keeping them separated. Frustrated and scared birds often hurt themselves attempting to escape situations. When a bird holds up their leg, it is the equivalent of a human limping and is a sign of pain. I would recommend taking her into be seen by an avian vet. They will likely recommend x-rays. The x-rays will ensure that she has no broken bones, as well as looking at her abdominal organs. Abdominal problems are a common cause of leg issues in birds because their abdominal organs are on top of their sciatic (leg) nerve. They will likely recommend an anti-inflammatory to help with her pain and make other treatment recommendations based off of x-rays and physical exam. I hope this helps! Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

If the foot is shriveled up it could be that the leg was deformed in the egg rather than broken, though if it was trapped a while that could have injured it as well. I would keep an eye on it and if it doesn't improve or straighten out, or seems to be causing distress, have it checked by a vet. They may need to offer a splint or other treatment plan to help it improve and get the baby feeling better.

Your quail has developed a touch of pododermatitis which is essentially infection and swelling of the soft parts of the feet. It can occur due to standing in dirty areas, uneven areas or narrow perches. I would check your housing is appropriate and clean and also get some antibiotics to help treat the feet. If you contact a vet they may be able to prescribe you something to pick up, or may request to see the quail first.

I would be concerned there is an injury to the leg, such as a sprain, break, or wound, or even a neurologic/muscular issues that could be affecting her legs. If it's been going on for several months without improvement, it would be best to have a vet take a look in person to rule out any treatable issues. If no problems can be found or treated, and she is able to get around and is still eating and drinking, making sure she has easy access to food and water, and isn't being picked on by the rest of the flock may help make things easier.

It's possible your hen may have an injury to the leg such as a sprain or break, or even a potential nutrient deficiency causing weakness. If the leg isn't improving on its own, seeking veterinary care to have it looked at by a vet is best. They may be able to figure out the issue or create a brace while the leg heals to make sure it stays in the proper position.

Poor JD! It's possible he may have injured the leg, and is now recovering. If he is continuing to improve, keeping an eye on it is best. However, if you see a worsening of symptoms, the improvement stops, visible deformity or bruising, or swelling appears, then bringing him to your local avian vet for a complete exam is best.