Aggressive bobwhite hen

[Danny C.]

I have 16 hens and 6 males which knowing this time of year the males aggressive toward each other, but over last few weeks I noticed a hen that would chase, peck at, and just agitate other hens. Yesterday I saw that I have 3 hens limping and watched one hen pecking at their feet. I removed her and put in garage pen by herself and saw no other aggressive hens after that in outdoor pen. How long should I keep her separated or does she need to be culled? Will she be picked on if put back outside? First time to do this since started raising quail last December. Thanks in advance for advise.

 

[mdees88]

Bobwhites need to be kept in pairs during the breeding season. If you keep 1 male and 3 hens together the hen that pairs with the male will kill the other 2 hens. At least that's what happened to mine.

I guess they either need a real big cage or they need small individual cages. Others will be able to give you more info on this....

 

[Danny C.]

Bobwhites need to be kept in pairs during the breeding season. If you keep 1 male and 3 hens together the hen that pairs with the male will kill the other 2 hens. At least that's what happened to mine.

I guess they either need a real big cage or they need small individual cages. Others will be able to give you more info on this....

Hope so, this is my setup and will be difficult to separate into pairs. There are 2 nesting boxes which they love, coop they use a lot but lay little in. Have not seen much hen aggression today and single hen calls obviously for others. She gave me an egg today also. Thanks, see what other options may be given.

 

[ButtonquailGirl14]

this will happen if not kept in pairs of at max 4, Bobwhites are VERY cannablistic.

 

[JaeG]

They can be kept as a group at any other time of year but when they are breeding they should be split up into pairs. They are highly aggressive and territorial, so it would only be in a very large, naturally planted enclosure where they can establish individual territories that a group would work all year round. Any kind of fighting indicates they haven't got enough space to establish territories.

 

[Danny C.]

Update:
Put her back with flick after keeping her separated for 9 days. Yes she was picked on by hen that became boss while she was out. Almost glad to see her coward down but is what it is. More hens than male I see aggressive toward others. Understand why is said bobwhites are barnyard species of quail. I do have a small ziptie on leg to tell her apart from rest.