Can I move Buttonquail chicks to different mother?

[Fishkeeper]

Keep it warm, make sure they can't fall in the water, and provide food, and they should be okay. If you're really worried you can look into getting them a brooding heat plate as an 'extra' hen.

 

[DK newbie]

So cute!
They'll be fine for the first few days, as they are still small enough to fit under her. The issue is if it gets cold once they are so big they won't easily fit. Do you keep them inside? If so, I'd increase the temperature in the room they are in and observe them as they get bigger - if they are peeping loud a lot, they might be cold. In that case, you could add a heat lamp or other device to help keep them warm.

 

[Murphy_the_Hooligan]

Hi everyone!

Thank you so much for the responses! 4 of the chicks didn’t make it within the first five or so days. The three that are left are doing well. I have a white one and two red breasted ones.. or so I thought based on their down. Their feathers are growing in and it appears as though the brown and yellow mixed down chicks are actually basic brown hens. They also kind of look like they’re starting to grow white bibs! I’m not sure! Ive always had the basic brown ones come out completely brown not half brown half yellow. The only half brown half yellow ones I’ve had are red breasted. I’ve included pics below. What do y’all think?

 

[Murphy_the_Hooligan]

 

[DK newbie]

Sorry you lost 4!
They look pretty wild colored to me. A bit early to tell if they are getting actual bibs though. Sometimes I think they are and then it's just light colored feathers or white patches..
With regards to your roo who didn't make a good dad: I had a hen hatch 5 chicks about 2 weeks ago. As the chicks were hatching, I noticed the roo pecking into the feathers of the hen when the chicks were sticking out through the feathers. I decided to remove him as I couldn't keep watching. A few days later I tried to put him back. The hen was fine with him there, he seemed a little scared of the chicks. I didn't really see him hurt them, if I was standing too close he was just pacing - but I think I saw him rush at a chick 'attack style' once or twice during 1-2 hours before I took him out again. Waited a few more days, then I moved mum and chicks to a different cage (because the one they were in was terribly dirty as I don't clean it while the hen is broody, and because I suspected that some of the finches also living in the cage were plucking mum) and the next day I put the roo in there as well. The chicks were probably around a week old at this point. It took a day or so - but then he was letting the chicks sit under him as well and now he seems to be an excellent dad. This was his first clutch, so I have high hopes he'll get it right from day 1 next time
I'm not sure if it was the new cage or the fact that the chicks were larger that made the difference, but something worked. Might work for you as well.