Help! Quail Chicks squeezed by 2yo

[Lillian-Xing Liu]

My mother invited a friend of hers and two of her sons over to our place to see our newly hatched Quails. UNFORTUNATELY, her toddler is a menace and decided to squeeze my 2 day old quails! MULTIPLE TIMES!!!
I don’t know whether if my Quails are okay. They seemed to have lost their “prance”. Are they going to die?

Edit: One of them seem to be chirping really loudly. He normally wouldn’t, none of them would. Is this a sign?

 

[cavemanrich]

Sorry to hear this,,.. I know the situation is uncomfortable, but do not blame the little toddler. He is just too young to understand. Those quail looked like toys to such a child.
I don't think there is much you can do at this point. Just hope that your quail can pull thru.
Most certainly a life lesson, that is somewhat hurtful.

WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,and

 

[Lillian-Xing Liu]

Yea, forgot to say the mother deliberately held the toddler at my box and watched him squeeze them! We strictly told them “don’t squeeze the chicks” and that’s how she responds?!
Sorry, I’m just a little angry about this afternoon. Now we’re not gonna let anyone come, if it’s specifically to see the chicks.

 

[Allthefloofs]

I wouldn’t let my 5 year old pick up or hold chicks, she could only pet them when someone else was holding them. A two year old would have been a hard no for me. Look but no touch. They are just too little, terror or no. The best behaved 2/3/4 year old doesn’t have the motor skills nor the understanding of how fragile a baby bird is. I am sorry about your babies, and I hope they recover. You are understdably upset and worried. This is a problem with the mother and apparently your mother and not the 2 year old. My kids were 7 before they were able to pick up a chick supervised, not at all before then regardless of how much they wanted to.

 

[Bigtom Turkey]

I wouldn’t let my 5 year old pick up or hold chicks, she could only pet them when someone else was holding them. A two year old would have been a hard no for me. Look but no touch. They are just too little, terror or no. The best behaved 2/3/4 year old doesn’t have the motor skills nor the understanding of how fragile a baby bird is. I am sorry about your babies, and I hope they recover. You are understdably upset and worried. This is a problem with the mother and apparently your mother and not the 2 year old. My kids were 7 before they were able to pick up a chick supervised, not at all before then regardless of how much they wanted to.

Pretty much what I was goning too say but I don't have kids.

 

[Xouie]

Being in shock would definitely make them lose their prance. Chirping loudly is a sign of distress — it’s just difficult to say if that’s physical or mental. If you have liquid chick vitamins for the water, use them per package directions. If you don’t, search electrolytes or Gatorade here on BYC; you may be able to use that. Keep an eye out for ones that start to get lethargic.

 

[Allthefloofs]

Pretty much what I was goning too say but I don't have kids.

Before I had kids I would have had the same idea, just like you . After having them I can confidently say they just need a lot of time before handling small animals. My kids are really, really good too. It's mostly a developmental thing. They just are not developed enough neurologically to handle small animals of any type.

 

[cavemanrich]

Yea, forgot to say the mother deliberately held the toddler at my box and watched him squeeze them! We strictly told them “don’t squeeze the chicks” and that’s how she responds?!

Problem is definitely with the adult mom.

How are the quail doing today?