I've also noticed a strange neurological phenomenon with quail chicks. Some of them are born with curled feet, those live for a couple of days in separate boxes that I set up so that they can straighten themselves up and eat/drink. Sometimes the feet correct themselves and I add them to the other chicks. This last time, I had 3 healthy ones, one with a slightly curled foot and another one that had two curled feet. Of the two healthy ones, one of them started listing to the side and resting with its legs stretched out and its eyes closed. When it walked it would drag its foot, its like it was slowly being paralyzed. It would struggle to right itself. They all seem to do this, they end up on their backs with their legs flailing and can't right themselves, I spend hours watching them and righting them only to see them struggling when I leave the room Finally, when the weather changed, went from 80's and humid to 60 and rainy, the listing chick suddenly started walking normally and the curled foot chick's foot straightened. They are zipping around their brooder like little bees. Walking normally and no funny sleeping positions or ending up on their backs or sides struggling. I keep a thermometer in the brooder, and the temp has ranged from 93 on the hot days to 90 on the cooler days. I'm sure it has something to do with the weather and the humidity. They go from a very humid incubator to a drier climate and its bound to affect them. My building is well insulated. I was cracking a window, but when it started raining and getting chilly I shut it. I don't have air conditioning, but when I shut the window, the humidity climbed. Maybe they need cooler more humid conditions? I usually give them a dish towel to curl up with like they were in the nest with their mum. They don't seem to like curling up with each other like my chickens do.
