Fully feathered, 5wk old chick laid her first egg, becoming aggressive?

[SeptemberQuail]

Yesterday, when I went to check my chicks, I noticed a strange rounded, yellowish thing with spots on it. I realized it was an egg and so I took it in. I found out that one of my eldest chicks laid it even though she isn't a complete adult yet (turning 6wks in a few days).
I know for sure which chick laid it, and now she's turning a little more aggressive on her hatch-mates, by coming near them and pulling on their feathers. She only does it occasionally, but I don't understand why.

Is it because pecking order is being established? She's the biggest out of the lot, and the heaviest (she eats a lot, just like her mother did before.) But ever since she laid that egg, she's been acting like the boss of all the others.


(Here she is)





Thanks in advance.

 

[sourland]

Hormones do strange things to people, birds, and all animals.

 

[FenDruadin]

Agreed--hormones. As long as she's not causing damage I wouldn't worry about it. She's precocious and she's probably irritated that the others haven't caught up with her. Just keep an eye out and remove her if she starts to injure the others.

 

[NovaAman]

holy cow! I had no idea that quail laid so young!

 

[SeptemberQuail]

Yeah, I was surprised, they're still young but she already laid an egg somehow, I know though that the other females should start laying next week. I checked her this morning and could feel another egg developing inside of her.
She pulls at their feathers, but doesn't pluck them, so everything seems alright.

Thanks for the replies!

... Being precocious is normal for birds, right?