Coturnix chicks 8 days old and already fighting?

[wishful suburbanite]

I have 20 7 to 9-day-old coturnix chicks. Well, they are growing like weeds but they're already fighting at 8 days old max yesterday? Yikes.

One big golden has been going around trying to peck every other chick on the face, big or runty. That one is definitely spazzing the rest out but I don't know if it's the only culprit.

The biggest problem is it's keeping everyone in a frequent state of panic because if one is frightened, the rest are too.

I imagine they're working on a pecking order but I don't want them smacking their heads against the bin half the day, freaking out.

I crumpled some paper towels for visual obstruction but it didn't create much.

Thought of throwing in a small cardboard box to hide in, but I have the feeling someone would escape by climbing on top of it and jumping out. The window screen thrown over the top doesn't quite cover the whole opening. I'm working on it.

Possible problems... I think I need a bigger bin. It's probably something like 25" by 30." I used white lightbulbs just because I already had them.

Would it be possible to take out the worst aggressors and not have anyone necessarily killing each other if they were reintroduced later?

With me already being low on space, would splitting into two groups of 10 be alright or should I really try to keep them together in one huge brooder?

I'm only going to keep 6 or 7 of them at max, and only one roo. I thought I might sell them off as tiny chicks but but my interested party wants them grown out. That's why I'm not quite prepared for this volume.

Thoughts?

 

[TwoCrows]

Quail babies will fight in the brooder for a few reasons. They might be too crowded in and from your dimensions, I think they are packed in a bit tight. They will also fight because they are too hot. So you may also need to drop the heat a few degrees. This action coupled with more room should stop the aggression. Competition for food and water will also make them cranky. So make sure to have 2 areas to get water and feed.

If changing around the furniture here does not do the trick, you may just have an aggressive quail on your hands in which you will need to separate him out. He is not going to get better if the above steps has not worked and will no doubt be a terror when he grows up. Separating him out for a few weeks can work to calm him down.

Good luck!

 

[wishful suburbanite]

Thanks!

I'm getting a new bin today for sure. I knew I couldn't get them to 6 weeks in the one I have, but I hadn't realized it would be outgrown in a week.

I have multiple water containers, but that in itself is taking floor space. I have one food dish, but I also tend to scatter a handful too.

And I will give the nasty quail a time out if it's really just the one that's raising heck. Permanent time-out if it has to come to it.

 

[bigrob83]

doesnt happen often but yes you can get one that is super aggressive.
generally speaking it doesnt go away either.

the others once stressed and pecked on will get aggressive as well.
more of a defensive tactic than anything. remove the aggressor and things will came back down

 

[wishful suburbanite]

Thanks again.

I think they just had a bad evening. When I got home yesterday they were back to chirruping and sleeping in a pile.

I've bought a second bin. If I see the pecker acting up again, he's coming out. Also will probably split the group up soon but as of yesterday they looked happy together, so I think I'll at least let them finish out the week in one flock.

 

[slipstich]

We only have 4, 7 day olds and they have started fighting. We have just increased the size of thier box today and I think they are setting up a pecking order. The one we thought might be a cock seems to be the instigator but one of the others is not letting it away with anything and the other 2 are hiding in the corners. Only another 5 weeks to go before we let them into the big wide world, will WE survive ?

 

[wishful suburbanite]

I hope so!

I'm hoping yours might get over it like mine. I'm hoping mine will stay over it.

I wonder if having more chicks at least disperses aggression in some way? They say that for female betta fish. But for quail, then it's back to the 20 chicks freaking out issue.

 

[clive1060]

Hi I live in Chester UK and have quail and the only all red one was mega pecking the heads of all others even when put into massive enclosure, had to get rid sharpish out of 12 I had 7 males who mated 2 females to death I didn't know the difference at the time of buying now have 1 male 3 female lifes good. Good luck

 

[clive1060]

Hi I live in Chester UK and have quail and the only all red one was mega pecking the heads of all others even when put into massive enclosure, had to get rid sharpish out of 12 I had 7 males who mated 2 females to death I didn't know the difference at the time of buying now have 1 male 3 female lifes good. Good luck