Keeping quails involves certain difficulties. Diseases to which quail are susceptible pose a serious threat to livestock. These birds do not have strong immunity, and failure to comply with preventive measures and violation of maintenance rules only contributes to the development of illnesses - that is why quails die, including in large numbers. It is important to know the symptoms of major pathologies, the causes of their occurrence and treatment methods.
Possible causes of death and methods for solving them
Due to violation of maintenance rules, as well as due to ignoring preventive measures, quail often suffer from serious, including fatal, diseases.
Salmonellosis
Lack of ventilation in the place where quails are kept creates favorable conditions for the spread of infection. Crowding of individuals also contributes to salmonella infection. Another reason why salmonellosis develops is feeding with low-quality food. The pathology cannot be treated, so all sick birds are destroyed.
Colibacillosis
It is an intestinal infection that quickly spreads among livestock, leading to an epidemic. Sources of infection are water, food, feces. Treatment is carried out with the help of antibiotics, “Acidophilus” is added to the diet, and the enclosures are disinfected.
Pullorosis
The infection affects the gastrointestinal tract and other internal organs. The disease leads to the death of week-old quails. If a pathology is detected, the bird is culled and the blood of the remaining individuals is checked for infection. The enclosure and equipment are also disinfected. Quails that have been in contact with sick birds are quarantined.
Aspergillosis
Symptoms of the disease are almost invisible, so individuals often die from infection and its consequences. Treatment involves the use of antimycotics and vitamin supplements. The antifungal drug Clotrimazole and the like also effectively fight infection.
Smallpox
The symptoms are pronounced and manifest themselves in the following:
- fever;
- rash on the head, around the eyes, on the eyelids and beak;
- plaque in the mouth.
Adult quails are also treated with Tetracycline and Trimecol. The diet is also changing - vitamin A is added to the food, and the drink is saturated with potassium iodide. The room where sick birds were kept is disinfected.
Pseudoplague
In the first 7 days, the disease is asymptomatic and ends with the rapid death of quails. Transmission of infection occurs through feces, dirty food, rats, cats, birds. This virus also poses a danger to humans, so it is necessary to disinfect all equipment and premises where the birds lived. It is best to treat with a 1-2 percent alkaline solution. It is strictly forbidden to consume the meat and eggs of such birds. Pseudoplague cannot be treated. Sick quails are slaughtered and the carcasses are burned.
Cholera
This is another dangerous disease from which birds die very quickly. Symptoms include bloody diarrhea and a bluish discoloration of the beak. It cannot be treated.
Enteritis
The infection is transmitted quickly, the disease occurs suddenly and leads to the death of individuals. At first, the pathology does not manifest itself in any way. Subsequently, birds experience symptoms such as:
- lethargy;
- blood in stool;
- white diarrhea;
- dull, ruffled feathers.
To cure poultry at home, use Bacitracin, Streptomycin, and Furazolidone.
Violation of containment conditions
Often the reason why a bird suddenly died for no apparent reason is the keeping of females and males together. For 4-6 quails and one male there is a cage measuring 80 by 40 by 20 cm.
Another important point is that it is necessary to provide conditions so that the birds have a take-off distance of no more than 20 cm, since they take off vertically. Another common problem is cannibalism.Most often, young quail and unhatched chicks suffer from this phenomenon. Pecking usually results from violent fights inside the enclosure, and the cause of such aggression is a deficiency of nutrients of protein origin. Other provoking factors:
- uncomfortable living conditions;
- stress;
- internal deviations.
Prevention measures
To prevent the development of serious diseases in quails, poultry farmers adhere to the following rules:
- A balanced diet rich in vitamins. The presence of fruits, greens, and vegetables in the diet.
- Walks. Birds need to be released from their cage periodically.
- Correct content. Lack of crowding, cleanliness, etc.
- Vaccination.
- Disinfection. Poultry houses should be regularly treated with an antiseptic.
It is important to remember that the immune defense of young animals is formed from 3 weeks of age until they reach 3 months. During this period, exposure to negative factors poses the greatest danger to quails.
Diseases that can lead to the death of birds are numerous. The health of birds depends on the knowledge and skills of the farmer, who can prevent the onset of disease, notice changes in the behavior and condition of quails in time, and take appropriate measures.
