Common Diseases of Farmed Quail Dr. Keith Bailey Lab Director & Pathologist, OADDL

Oklahoma Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory Opened in 1976 to assist animal owners & producers OADDL is accredited by the AAVLD & a member of the NAHLN

Background Information About Quail Type of Quail Body Size at Maturity Age of Sexually Maturity (weeks) Incubation Period of Eggs (days) Weight (gm) Age (weeks) Bobwhite 162 12 16 22-23 Coturnix (Japanese) 6 16-18 Domesticated quail are not usually broody (must incubate eggs or use broody hen) http://extension.psu.edu/business/ag-alternatives/livestock/poultry-and-game-birds/bobwhite-quail-production

Diseases of Farmed Quail As with most avian diseases, the age of the bird strongly influences the issue or disease involved: Incubation/Hatchability Brooding Growers Adults https://www.purelypoultry.com/northern-bobwhite-quail-chicks-p-769.html

Incubation/Hatchability Reasons for poor hatch Improper temperature Improper humidity Suboptimal turning Poor ventilation Infertile eggs Cracked eggs Old eggs Contaminated shells http://www.onehundreddollarsamonth.com/baby-quail-eggs-hatching/

Terminology Pipping = the process of the chick cracking the egg during hatch Egg tooth = projection on end of a chick’s beak used for cracking the egg during hatching

Terminology Glottis = opening to the trachea; located at base of tongue Choana = opening in roof of mouth that leads to the nasal passages

Brooding – Common Issues Improper temperature (95°F for 1st week, then decreased by 5°F each week) Poor ventilation Pens with corners (piling) Lack of fresh water Diseases (next slide) http://www.tristatefarmersmarket.com/JUMBO%20quail.htm

Brooding – Diseases Omphalitis Aspergillosis http://www.thepoultrysite.com/publications/6/diseases-of-poultry/178/escherichia-coli-infections/ Brooding – Diseases Omphalitis Most commonly due to infection with E. coli = colibacillosis High mortality in first week Aspergillosis Granulomas in the lungs & air sacs of chicks Mortality in 2nd week May cause gasping (gaping) or neurologic signs Due to contaminated incubator

Brooder/Grower Quail – Diseases Quail Bronchitis = acute respiratory infection caused by an adenovirus; affecting birds show gasping (gaping) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnPafxZbWp8 http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/982455/sick-baby-chick

Grower Quail – Diseases Coccidiosis = most important disease of growing game birds & poultry serosa (outside) mucosa (inside) pancreas

Grower Quail – Diseases Coccidiosis = most important disease of growing game birds & poultry pinpoint hemorrhages characteristic of coccidiosis

Grower Quail – Diseases Ulcerative enteritis (Quail Disease) = acute mortality in growing quail raised on dirt https://www.studyblue.com/notes/note/n/path-exam-4/deck/4743022 Cause = Clostridium colinum

Grower Quail – Diseases Ulcerative enteritis (Quail Disease) = acute mortality in growing quail raised on dirt http://wildpro.twycrosszoo.org/S/00Ref/bookref36_fieldmanualofwildlifediseases/12/B36Fig12.4_MF.jpg Necrosis in the intestine may be discrete, circular lesions or involve entire segments (usually see deep ulcers)

https://bobwhites.wordpress.com/works-cited/ Adult Quail Diseases https://bobwhites.wordpress.com/works-cited/ http://ozarksquail.blogspot.com/

Adult Quail – Diseases Ulcerative enteritis (Quail Disease) = acute mortality in quail raised on dirt https://www.studyblue.com/notes/note/n/path-exam-4/deck/4743022

Adult Quail Diseases Cropworms (Capillaria sp.) = chronic wasting; emaciation thickened (leathery) appearance of crop

Adult Quail Diseases Quail poxvirus = crusty proliferations on face (around beak) Fowl pox in a chicken

Adult Quail Diseases Quail poxvirus = crusty proliferations on face (around beak) Fowl pox in a turkey

Fowl pox in a wild turkey Adult Quail Diseases Quail poxvirus = crusty proliferations on face (around beak) Fowl pox in a wild turkey

Adult Quail Diseases Quail poxvirus = crusty proliferations on face (around beak) Fowl pox in a pigeon

https://www. purelypoultry. com/northern-bobwhite-quail-chicks-p-769 https://www.purelypoultry.com/northern-bobwhite-quail-chicks-p-769.html Questions?