Secret rooster?

[Nabiki]

Thanks everyone for your replies! I haven't been able to find any local groups or forums for Japanese quail owners so this has been very helpful.

I agree that it's a bad idea to put the Tuxedo back in with my pharoah females. He seems pretty happy at the moment in his new setup, and the pharoah girls have relaxed a lot more in the adjacent cage. I added the Italian female to the Tuxedo's cage because they get along well. He's stopped crowing and sure enough they've been happily romancing.

I guess I need to decide whether to keep the Tuxedo or sell him- I had originally intended to have 1 male and four females. But he's happy with the Italian female, and my two pharoah females are happy with my other little rooster, who has a great temperament.

Keep a close eye on them. Since he only has the one hen,, he is likely to overbreed her. If that happens, it will not be good for your girl.

 

[Justin707]

It's a roo. I've had success with 1 to 1 pairings. Actually, in some ways I prefer it to more hens with a roo. You could do two cages if you're willing. Most of us have had to learn to cull as a matter of practicality.

True. I have culled birds before- not quail, but a feral species that kills and displaces native birds here (in Australia we are required to euthanise feral species, it's illegal to release them again) so I'm not averse to doing what I need to do if required. The main reason I'm considering selling him or permanently keeping him in a separate cage is because I have three nephew & neices currently living with us who love the birds.

The important thing is that we've identified he's a male (in large part thanks to BYC), so now I can consider a few different practical solutions

 

[Justin707]

Keep a close eye on them. Since he only has the one hen,, he is likely to overbreed her. If that happens, it will not be good for your girl.

Good to know thanks, I'll be sure to keep observing them regularly. If necessary I'll move her back to the adjacent cage with the others who she gets along with and sell the Tuxedo I think.

 

[QuailTail]

Thanks everyone for your replies! I haven't been able to find any local groups or forums for Japanese quail owners so this has been very helpful.

I agree that it's a bad idea to put the Tuxedo back in with my pharoah females. He seems pretty happy at the moment in his new setup, and the pharoah girls have relaxed a lot more in the adjacent cage. I added the Italian female to the Tuxedo's cage because they get along well. He's stopped crowing and sure enough they've been happily romancing.

I guess I need to decide whether to keep the Tuxedo or sell him- I had originally intended to have 1 male and four females. But he's happy with the Italian female, and my two pharoah females are happy with my other little rooster, who has a great temperament.

Fellow Australian quail keeper here! We are a rare breed in these parts, but this is the best forum for quail help so you're in the right place. I'm only just over a year into my quail journey but happy to be helpful anytime I can re local related stuff. I'm in NSW

 

[Justin707]

Fellow Australian quail keeper here! We are a rare breed in these parts, but this is the best forum for quail help so you're in the right place. I'm only just over a year into my quail journey but happy to be helpful anytime I can re local related stuff. I'm in NSW

Thank you! Good to see another Aussie, I'm also from NSW. I agree, from what I've seen this is the best forum for quail help. The people here have been helpful-- the good news is when we confirmed my little quail was a rooster I was able to take him back to the pet store where I bought him, and they found a loving home for him the very next day.