Quail Chicks Flying at Me

[bloodbiter]

everytime i stick my hand down the corner of the brooder to retrieve their water dish or something, my quail chicks (who have lately learned to fly), will come jump-flying at my hand similarly to a roosters attack. they jump claws first into my arms, or run around pecking and twisting at the skin on my hand.

(it doesnt hurt because they are still small, but the sudden flights and *attacks* startle me sometimes and i accidentally pulled my hand out in shock once and startled them, )

is this aggression or curiosity? am i scaring them? will they outgrow this?

 

[sourland]

I would guess that if you are approaching from above that their response is one of self protection/fear. How large is the brooder? Perhaps they feel trapped and unable to escape.

 

[Canina]

everytime i stick my hand down the corner of the brooder to retrieve their water dish or something, my quail chicks (who have lately learned to fly), will come jump-flying at my hand similarly to a roosters attack. they jump claws first into my arms, or run around pecking and twisting at the skin on my hand.

(it doesnt hurt because they are still small, but the sudden flights and *attacks* startle me sometimes and i accidentally pulled my hand out in shock once and startled them, )

is this aggression or curiosity? am i scaring them? will they outgrow this?

You say down. So your brooder opens from the top. That will scare the daylights out of most small animals/birds. It does sound like defensive behaviour.

 

[FloorCandy]

I have a few adults that do this, I don’t know why, even fully grown they don’t break the skin or leave a mark, so I just shoo them away. The ones who do it are almost always males in my case.

 

[bloodbiter]

I would guess that if you are approaching from above that their response is one of self protection/fear. How large is the brooder? Perhaps they feel trapped and unable to escape.

the brooder is pretty small, but it's temperory.

i try my best to not put my hand over them by sliding it down the corner.

You say down. So your brooder opens from the top. That will scare the daylights out of most small animals/birds. It does sound like defensive behaviour.

alright, makes sense. i cant get an elevated, eye-level brooder right now, but ill be upgrading to a bigger one soon.

 

[BrandonsBirbs]

Normal scared behaviour, if they have nothing to run under then they're going to fly at you.

 

[bloodbiter]

Normal scared behaviour, if they have nothing to run under then they're going to fly at you.

thanks! I'll keep this in mind!

 

[Misfits Farm 92]

everytime i stick my hand down the corner of the brooder to retrieve their water dish or something, my quail chicks (who have lately learned to fly), will come jump-flying at my hand similarly to a roosters attack. they jump claws first into my arms, or run around pecking and twisting at the skin on my hand.

(it doesnt hurt because they are still small, but the sudden flights and *attacks* startle me sometimes and i accidentally pulled my hand out in shock once and startled them, )

is this aggression or curiosity? am i scaring them? will they outgrow this?

Mine do this if they're hungry or thirsty.

 

[bloodbiter]

everytime i stick my hand down the corner of the brooder to retrieve their water dish or something, my quail chicks (who have lately learned to fly), will come jump-flying at my hand similarly to a roosters attack. they jump claws first into my arms, or run around pecking and twisting at the skin on my hand.

(it doesnt hurt because they are still small, but the sudden flights and *attacks* startle me sometimes and i accidentally pulled my hand out in shock once and startled them, )

is this aggression or curiosity? am i scaring them? will they outgrow this?

update: thanks for all the suggestions! moved them into a better and bigger brooder today!!

edit: they no longer fly at/peck my hands!

 

[bloodbiter]

Mine do this if they're hungry or thirsty.

thanks, this makes alot of sense; i put some more food/water containers in for them!