Is she going broody

[Jus1]

I have 16 female quails and 2 of them keep digging out in just 2 spots of the pen. They dig and lay, turn, dig, and lay. The 1 outside of the house takes swipes at any other quail who stands there too long. She took a good swipe at my ankle while I was putting their sandbox back after cleaning it out. (Guess I was too close too long) As most of you may remember this is my 1st time raising anything, so I'm learning through your help. I thought coturnix quail will rarely go broody so I may just have 2 cranky females? Advise please because I'd rather let them sit on eggs if they will, so obviously I wouldn't want to touch theirs

 

[casportpony]

Welcome to BYC! @TwoCrows and @JaeG are two quail people.

 

[TwoCrows]

Sounds like the one that came after your ankle is going broody! It is actually fairly common for quail to go broody, especially those kept in aviaries and open areas. (Cages tend to squelch broodiness.) However whats rare is them staying broody for the entire incubation period. They will sometimes start the process but then give up and abandon the eggs. But yes, females will come after you when broody!

Let them do their thing if you wish. If you have fertile eggs for them, you never do know, you might get chicks!