I've just found one of my two Quails dead in their run,She had a large mass by her rear end. Are they prone to tumours?

I'm slightly concerned it might be un-laid eggs, as they stopped laying over month ago when they seem to lose weight and their feathers began falling out. (I brought them inside for a couple of days, and treated them for lice and there outside enclosure). Since then they had put the weight back on, and plumage improved back to normal. The only thing that didn't return was the eggs, but I had read egg production falls in winter months, so wasn't that concerned.

They are fed on layer pallets, corn, and both grit and oyster shells. (plus mealworms, greens for treats). I have just health checked the remaining Quail, and she appears fine.

I'm also concerned what I should do now, I don't like the idea of leaving the quail alone, but I also don't really like the idea of buying new animals in winter. The remaining quail also took a dislike the another Quails and killed it, I don't want that happening again.

Any advice would be gratefully received.

I very much doubt that there are any quail experts on DS. Can you ask your vet? Or buy a quail husbandry book.

Try this site

I brought a Quail book but found it very unhelpful. It has a whole section on Quail recipes, not what I wanted from a husbandry book. My locals vets don't deal with poultry.

You should have seen signs if the bird was egg bound they tend to get distressed and repeatedly try to lay the egg before becoming lethargic and very ill.

You would see an egg shaped lump usually quite clearly near the rear end.

I am not aware they are prone to any particular cancers although they can like any poultry suffer from various cancers.


Was she over weight ? because IME if they get over weight they are more prone to being egg bound.

She didnt appear distressed to me, but then the nights get dark so quick, and with me working during the day I havent had much to time to monitor them for long periods.

She was always the larger bird but I wouldnt have said overweight. The lump near the rear end looks to big to be just one egg, its the size of at least 3.

Sounds much more like some sort of tumour than an egg, hard to tell though not seeing the bird.

If the others are OK I think you just have the keep a closer eye on them so you know if they are becoming egg bound, I know it's hard with work etc but having these creatures mean having to make time sometimes.