Over-grooming Quail Chick Loses Feathers (?)

[Anonymous]

Hi Everyone,

I have a 3 weeks old Italian quail chick which I house in a 12 liters indoors tank with plenty of toys.

In the last couple of days I notice the chick keeps grooming itself and picking at its feathers, to the point where it plucks some of its plumage (I keep finding small plumage feathers in its tank everyday).

Overall, the chick is in good health, eating and drinking and does not show any signs of distress and the rest of its feathers are intact (it's quite feathery! ). I also checked for any signs of lice and mites under its feathers but couldn't find any.

I feed the chick chick-fowl mixture and give it fresh water everyday.

I would like to know if this grooming\plucking plumage phenomenon is a well known one? Is it dangerous to the chick and what can be done to prevent it? Will it harm the chick in the long run? it only seems to target small plumage feathers and does not have any signs of getting "bald" anywhere... Might it just be moulting?

I will appreciate your help with this question!


Caille

 

[Tim]

OK so I'm not great with quail and I don't know how long it takes for them to mature - but it could be losing a few feathers as it grows more 'adult' feathers?

 

[Anonymous]

Hey Tim

Yeah, having checked online it seems that the chick may be going through a moult phase as it shifts from being a chick to a juvenile. The moult is supposed to occur once the chick is 3-4 weeks and then 7 weeks of age. I hope it grows nice feathers!

 

[Tim]

OK that's good. I'm pleased you found out (and I've learnt something too) seems awfully young 3 weeks to me since I keep chickens that are slower to mature ;-)

 

[Anonymous]

Yeah, I know what you mean... used to have an indoors chicken myself, but when it turned into a spring chicken we had to give it away! I do remember it took it some time to mature, a few months if I'm correct. I find that the quail I'm raising at the moment is less affectionate and attached than the chicken I once had, and wonder if it's got something to do with the species... :?