Adding new "strangers" in with my grown Bobwhites?

[_Randall_]

What can I expect if I add a new group of a dozen or so BWs in with my existing grown 48 BWs? I've got mostly roosters, and am wanting to add some more hens to the group so I can be ready to raise some off of them next spring. Total rejection, all out terrorist attack, warm welcome?????

 

[kooltex]

They may very well go on attack. Be better to introduce them in a totally new enclosure where there are no "territories" established. My bob's have attacked newbies, as well as a couple of pheasants that were 4 x there size. They are fearless.

 

[DLS]

I would think that there would be some quail deaths. They are mean. I put them NEXT to each other where they can see & smell each other fow a few weeks then let them in 1 at a time .... this does not work 100%

 

[_Randall_]

That's what I figured. I guess I'll put them in a vacant 3' x 9' pen adjacent to the pen the 48 are in for the winter. This way, they are seperated and can at least see each other. I'm building a little chute from one pen to the other to make it all one continuous pen, but will have the two blocked off through the winter so they can't mix.
Oh yeah, somebody mentioned "smell" ........ Can fowl use smell to help determine another bird is a stranger?

 

[JJMR794]

When You Do Combine Them..... Move All Quail To A New Pen At The Same Time. Sometimes This Helps, As If They Are All On Nuetral Territory Then Sometimes It Helps To Alleviate A Little Hostility. Good Luck With This.