I haven't seen my birds do that, but they will run off with a prize (like a worm) and try to keep it from the others while dining on it - if it's not something that they can swallow whole.
I may soon be in a similar position, so interested to know the condition you receive the eggs in; and your hatch rate.
Those "fragile" and "egg" stickers sure look like an invitation to some postal goon to thrash the heck out of that box.
Good luck!
I use the same feeder that you're using but to prevent them from tossing out feed - and pooping in/on the feeder, I just made a small hole on both sides of the top and ran a small metal rod through the feeder and hang it about chest high so they can't get at it except to eat. Works like a charm.
You don't need two males with two females. The usual ratio is one male to four, five or six females. Maybe the ladies are too bothered by the males (who must be competing for the two girls) to relax and lay.
Just over two weeks ago I bought my first six coturnix females aged four months. I...
Depends on what the solid flooring is made from and how large your hutch is. My hutch is about 2.5' x 5' and has a plastic lined tray under the roofed area that I keep liberally covered with wood shavings. Cleaning is a snap; just remove the tray, dump the shavings, hose off the tray if...
I can't raise chickens where I live, so quail are a good compromise for eggs especially. Initially I didn't think I could butcher the cute little innocent fowl; but after a few weeks of cleaning up after the messy little things, their charm has worn off and I dont' think I'll have a problem...
Was in a similar position a few weeks ago. Feed store where I bought my coturnix also had a rabbit hutch that I purchased since I didn't have anything better at the time.
The hutch has a small enclosed house with one screen window, a door to the outer pen and a hinged roof. The enclosed...
Since they poop wherever the spirit moves them, leaving their food and water dispensers at ground level is not a good idea.
I elevated their water bottle on a brick but they can still jump up on the brick and take a dump in their drinking water; so will be devising a hanging water bottle...
Finally located a source of coturnix about 20 miles away and picked up six girls a week ago. Was told they're about four months old. They're standard variety and didn't come cheap but at least they're mature so I don't have to deal with incubators and brooders. So far I've been getting 1-2...
Posted this in the show section but adding it here also to alert So Cal area folk of today's poultry show at the Ventura County Fairgrounds in the Home Ec Bldg. Online sources list hours from 7 to 4 (or 5 p.m.) but the flier I spotted yesterday listed hours of 0900 to 0430. Free admission and...
The SeaSide Feather Fanciers Ninth Annual "Spring Fling" poultry show is today at Ventura County Fairgrounds in the Home Economics Bldg.
I'm not a member but just happened to spot a flier (no pun intended) at a local feed store yesterday that announced hours of 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for...