Strange Quail Behavior

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JuJubeann

JuJubeann

In the Brooder
Sep 11, 2016
66
6
28
Georgia
So,I've been keep quail for 7 weeks. My eggs came from a well known breeder in my state. There's a couple of issues with them I'm having. #1 One of my quail make a Bob white call but all my quail are supposed to be texas a&m. There are some in the bunch the have a few feathers on their backs or tails that are wild colored. I got these to breed a few and put the rest in the freezer. However, I'm a bit concerned that something is wrong gene wise. No reason other than the feather colors and the Bob white call.

#2 Is it normal behavior for quail to mount any sex and then one that was mounted mounts the next one to walk by and then the mounted one mounts the next one to walk by. It continues for 5 or 6 birds. It's like a transference thing with these quail and it doesn't seem to matter what sex is it. Is this normal?
 
By 5 or 6 weeks hormones are raging. Keep a close watch for agression and be ready to separate individuals.

My priorities when determining who to keep are first, temperament. A roo should not be a bully, neither should a hen. Doesn't matter how big or beautiful the bird is bullies get culled. Second is size, the biggest go in the breeding program. And last is color or pattern.
 
Thanks eHuman. I have notice two roos that latch on to the side of my hens neck or back of the head. About 10 of my birds have not completely feathered in but I've noticed a few blood spots. I'm planning on re-grouping them this week end and attempting to set some for breeding for personal use only. However, the only ones I'm prepared to cull is like you said the bullies. Still trying to wait to see which hens are laying the bigger eggs.
 
Be watchful for the difference between normal young roo breeding behavior and agression. At the other end of the spectrum, If you are mating for fertility you dont want to end up with a roo too timid to mount the ladies.
 
Ehuman, even my timid roos can't resist mounting the aggressive ladies
1f60b.png
. I loved your aviary pics in another post BTW. I hope to have the genetic mix of your flock someday. Still learning...
 
Oreo quail said:
Ehuman, even my timid roos can't resist mounting the aggressive ladies
1f60b.png
. I loved your aviary pics in another post BTW. I hope to have the genetic mix of your flock someday. Still learning...
Click to expand...
Thank you so much. I just put 42 babies into it today. If I counted correctly there were 15 a&ms, 6 cinnamon including 2 tux, 12 pharaoh, 2 silver 1 tux, 6 golden and 1 tibetan. They were in heaven dust bathing and doing the popcorn dance.
 
Oreo quail said:
400


18 day old pharoahs. Still growing out. I have some English white and 1 A&M hen to cross with for the next batch. Did you buy eggs or cross them yourself?
Click to expand...

I set 60% of my own eggs which were a&m with brown genes and pharaoh with white genes. 40% were from a local breeder who has a very nice variety. Overall I ended up with some very beautiful crosses. Even though the breeders eggs were supposed to be pure as she keeps her lines separated I think there's an a&m roo named Houdini that visits her pens. I might have been upset if I were seeking specific lines to breed pure but I just wanted to add color to the flock and couldn't be happier. The golden males are noticeably larger and will cross nicely with my big girls.
 
They're beautiful! I'm thinking of getting some butlers next spring. There's a breeder up in griffin that I would love to drive up and get some from. I've never mixed any but I think you've inspired me to try.

I've got my last hatch for the year at about 5 weeks old. It's suppose to freeze this weekend. How do you guys shelter your quail for the winter. Should I bring them inside on the days it will freeze?
 
JuJubeann said:
Thanks eHuman. I have notice two roos that latch on to the side of my hens neck or back of the head. About 10 of my birds have not completely feathered in but I've noticed a few blood spots. I'm planning on re-grouping them this week end and attempting to set some for breeding for personal use only. However, the only ones I'm prepared to cull is like you said the bullies. Still trying to wait to see which hens are laying the bigger eggs.
Click to expand...

My only male does this part of the time. They are all about 6-8 months old according to the person I bought them from. None of the hens are bleeding, but 2 out of the 5 have a little bit of a baldish spot on the back of the head where he hangs onto them when he mounts. Is this normal or is it aggression? They don't chase each other, and they don't peck or pull feathers, he just hangs onto the back of the head for a moment. If it's aggression, I guess I should cull him?
 

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