What causes the lesions and scabby areas on the feet and toes of my bobwhite quail?
Frequently a series of lesions can be observed on the feet and toes of quail that resist even the best efforts to treat them. The lesions can range from a few dried scabs to complete toe loss. Often the lesions bleed severely. This problem is most commonly observed in birds raised on wire floors during the autumn season of the year. Many causes of these foot problems have been suggested and include insect stings, nutritional deficiencies, injuries and diseases. Actually, the most common cause is a combination of these factors. The condition is usually started from the bites of mosquitoes while they suck blood from the birds. Mosquitoes enter the house in larger numbers in the autumn when temperatures begin to fall. The feet are the most exposed part of the body because the mosquitoes can attack from beneath the wire floor as the bird sleeps. Birds housed on dirt or litter floors do not have a high incidence of this problem. After the bite has occurred, the foot becomes inflamed from ir
