My quail chick is running backwards?

[ChromiaLights]

I’ve recently started raising some quail chicks, and noticed this behavior in one. He will sometimes just start running backwards uncontrollably until he bumps into something that stops him, and sometimes it will have him hit whatever it is multiple times before stopping.

I separated him into a different brooder (with a friend!) because he was having trouble getting to food and water reliably in the bigger brooder, and he seemed to stop doing it after two days. It’s now been 5 days after moving him back, and I just saw him do it again!

I originally thought it might be brain damage of some sort, because I have seen them sometimes pop up in the brooder and (before I moved it) saw one make contact with the heat lamp through the netting.

But a different one of his batch also did it recently.

I was just wondering if anyone has any thoughts on what it could be? Especially now that another is showing some symptoms?

 

[Nabiki]

My first thought is that it perhaps hit its head. My next question is, what are you feeding them? Those aren't cedar chips in the brooder are they?

 

[ChromiaLights]

My first thought is that it perhaps hit its head. My next question is, what are you feeding them? Those aren't cedar chips in the brooder are they?

Nope!
So the bottom of the brooder is pine bedding, which they haven’t been really picking at aside from trying to dust bathe in.

I started the first day with some MannaPro Gamebird Showbird Starter Grower, but then switched to Bluebonnet Feeds Poultry & Game 30% Protein Crumble on Day 5 as soon as the bag came in.

I did originally think it hit its head, but then a completely different one is doing it occasionally.

 

[Susan Skylark]

I had a couple deformed chicks do this with my first hatch, they were smaller and got stepped on a lot, it wasn’t neurological rather a defense mechanism, like a lobster or crayfish startling and zooming backwards out of danger. The bird isn’t wobbly or stumbling and knows vaguely where it is going (not neurological) and once one figures it out it isn’t surprising others will learn it too (like how to use a novel waterer). He might just be a bit more flighty or timid than the other birds, he can probably go back in the main pen. Your quail had a talent!

 

[Nabiki]

Nope!
So the bottom of the brooder is pine bedding, which they haven’t been really picking at aside from trying to dust bathe in.

I started the first day with some MannaPro Gamebird Showbird Starter Grower, but then switched to Bluebonnet Feeds Poultry & Game 30% Protein Crumble on Day 5 as soon as the bag came in.

I did originally think it hit its head, but then a completely different one is doing it occasionally.

Sounds like their feed and bedding aren't a problem. I would watch them for the next day or two to see how they're doing. If it's neurological, you will probably see deterioration fairly quickly. You could also see it self correct quite quickly as well.

 

[le_bwah]

I have had a handful of chicks do that, across many different sources of hatching eggs. Most stopped the behavior when they hit sexual maturity, but one of my living birds still does it as an adult (2.5 years).

Because she only does it after eating, drinking, or foraging, it makes me wonder if it's not some sort of sensitivity in the beak.