Button chicks fighting? Cuddling? Normal behavior?

[Hcalkins]

I bought 3 button quail from my local pet store. She said one was born yesterday and the day before and the day before that. The one that was born that day did not make it, the one that was older was super rambunctious trying to get out of the enclosure all night. Now today the brooder is nice and warm there plenty of space for them to move away from the heat and come back to they have spots to hide. It seems they like to cuddle together with the thermometer I have in there with them they lay right up against it. I notice that the bigger ones tramples the smaller on picks at him pushes him with his beak lays on top of him. Is that normal behavior?

 

[Nabiki]

How much of a size difference is there between the two?
Can you post pics?
What is the temperature in the warm end? The cool end?

 

[Hcalkins]

 

[Hcalkins]

How much of a size difference is there between the two?
Can you post pics?
What is the temperature in the warm end? The

 

[Nabiki]

From what I can see, they do look to be about the same age by their development. I would watch them to make sure the larger one doesn't hurt the smaller one, but they'll probably become more equal as they grow. I don't see anything alarming in the pics.

 

[Hcalkins]

Hot end is 90 cooler end is 85. They are in something that’s 3ft long by 2ft w semi covered for venting purposes

 

[Hcalkins]

Wish you could post video

 

[Nabiki]

90 is a bit cool for new chicks. That puts the larger one being on top of the smaller one into a different light. It might be cold and trying to get warmth from the smaller one.

If you upload a video to YouTube you can share the link here.

 

[Hcalkins]

I switched up their “brooder” and got a stronger bulb. They seem to be much happier. I add a “cover” to the side with the light at night since it gets cooler in my house.

 

[Susan Skylark]

Quail chicks are also little monsters, they'll drag each other around by toes or wings, play full contact football with a bit of feather or bedding, hilarious but sometimes a little disturbing to our more peaceful tendencies, just think of it as having a dozen little brothers!