My Japanese quail has watery poop. What's causing it and what to do?

Birds will naturally have a bit of a watery stool (compared to say, dogs or cats), that usually has a solid and liquid component to it that dries quickly. If the stools are completely watery, discolored, or you're seeing signs of illness such as refusal to eat, weight loss, etc. it may indicate an issue such as a parasite or infection and should be checked out by a vet.

Thanks for reaching out about Quaily and including photos. The main worry would be the reduced appetite. The feces being white with little brown is suggestive of more urine and less feces, therefore not eating well. This could be a result of preparing to lay eggs but also could be illness. Usually when they lay eggs, they don't decrease appetite. A veterinary visit is recommended. Good luck.

All bird droppings are made up of three parts: Feces, the solid, central part which can vary in color depending on the food the bird eats. Urates, the next layer of the ring, which can be cloudy-clear or with shades of white, yellows and greens, again depending on the foods eaten. Urine is the clear liquid, usually outer layer of the ring. Depending on the amount of fruits and fluids the bird eats/drinks, this can be a significant part of the dropping. Diarrhea is often actually Polyuria. True diarrhea is when the feces part of the droppings are not well formed and liquidy. Diarrhea is usually caused by a disease. Polyuria is when there’s more than usual amounts of the urine and urates (the feces are still well formed). Polyuria may be caused by viral infections, allergies to foods or even a tumor somewhere. There are just so many possible causes that a vet visit is essential in order to catch things early.

Submit a sample to your veterinarian to diagnose parasites or bacterial/fungal overgrowth. Discontinue feeding fruits and vegetables until the stool is normal, then introduce one at a time slowly. Clean and sanitize the cage, bowls, toys and perches. Discard anything that cannot be sanitized. Use paper towels on the cage bottom and change them daily until his droppings are normal. Provide plenty of fresh, clean water. Keep him warm and as stress free as possible. If he develops lethargy, loss of appetite or if the droppings don't begin to firm up in the next 24 hours, have him examined by your vet or an experienced avian vet.

If you're only noticing the watery stools on occasion, one of my first thoughts would be diet-related. Some veggies and fruits can cause watery stools, and if you notice this happens after giving them a new treat or something to snack on, it could be related. Removing all extras for a few days and seeing if the stool improves can help determine this. If it isn't food related, additional issues such as internal parasites, stress, diet changes, GI upset, infections, etc can also be possible causes. Keeping them in a low stress area, and scheduling a veterinary visit if the loose stools continue or other signs of illness such as listless behavior, weight changes, not eating or drinking, etc appear is best.

Thanks for reaching out about Pearl. The components of the droppings (feces, urates, urine) can vary during the day, due to diet, or other possibilities. The explained example sound like increased urine and less urates. This could be due to increased water consumption but possibly also due to renal disease. Some intestinal parasites can also modify how the intestines absorb water through the intestinal tract. If the problem persists, an visit to an avian veterinarian is recommended.

If you've fed Miki any treats recently or changed his diet, it's possible the watery stool could be from that. Some fruits and veggies can cause an increase in watery stools, and removing them for a few days should allow the stool to return to normal. Other issues such as parasites, illness, etc, may have prolonged watery droppings, or you may see other symptoms such as decreased eating and drinking, not being as active, etc. If removing any treats or letting Miki adjust to a new diet doesn't clear up the stool issue in a few days, or you see worsening symptoms, scheduling a vet check to rule out more serious issues is best.