Alternative sexing methods?

[Kathrinix]

Hello hello!

I have a quail in my flock that is quite aggressive, especially to males. I have been calling her Duchess because she always needs special treatment...

Anyway, I had to isolate the Duchess from the flock on many occasions, but I have never seen her lay an egg. But she never crows like a rooster, either, and does not have a vent sack. I have not seen her mount other quails. She is rosetta, so not feather sexable.

Are there any other ways of telling her sex? She keeps causing trouble in the flock, and I wonder if it's because she's secretly a rooster...

The only thing I observed her do which may be an indicator is that she used what I call "the long distance flock search call", this kind of croaking they do when separated from the flock. In my experience, males usually crow when they are separated, and females croak. But... is that conclusive?

Any help is appreciated!

 

[Nabiki]

If you're in the northern hemisphere, she may not be laying due to the season. This time of year also makes it difficult to tell males because they're generally not sexually active.

If you don't want to wait until spring, you could try keeping this one indoors for a while with a companion that you know the gender of and make sure that she/he gets at least 14 hours of light per day for a couple weeks.

 

[arianna7]

It sounds like you have quite the character in Duchess! Determining the sex of quail, especially when they are not feather-sexable like your rosetta, can be tricky. Here are some ways to help you figure out if Duchess is indeed a female or possibly a rooster:

1. Behavioral Cues​

• Aggression: While females can be aggressive, roosters are often more dominant and may display aggressive behaviors towards other males.
• Vocalizations: You mentioned the "long distance flock search call." Generally, females make softer, cooing sounds, while males have more pronounced crowing. If she’s making a sound similar to crowing, it could indicate she’s a rooster, but it’s not definitive.

2. Physical Characteristics​

• Vent Examination: If you're comfortable, you can gently examine her vent. Roosters typically have a more pronounced vent, and you may notice differences in size or shape compared to females.
• Size and Build: Roosters are usually larger and more robust than hens. If Duchess appears larger or has a more muscular build, that might be a clue.

3. Egg Laying​

• Since you haven’t seen her lay eggs, it leans towards her being a rooster. However, some hens can have issues laying or may lay infrequently.

4. Feathering and Color​

• While rosetta quails aren’t feather-sexable, observing the overall feather condition can sometimes provide hints. Males often have more vibrant and varied plumage, while females may have more muted colors.

5. Consultation​

• If you’re still unsure, consider consulting with an avian vet or an experienced quail breeder. They can provide insights based on their experience and may be able to determine her sex more definitively.

Conclusion​

Given her aggressive behavior, lack of egg-laying, and the vocalization you described, it’s possible she could be a rooster. Observing her behavior closely over time may help clarify her role in your flock. If she continues to cause issues, you may need to consider separating her permanently or finding a new home where she can thrive without disrupting the flock.

If you have more questions or need further assistance, feel free to ask!

 

[Jener8or]

2. Physical Characteristics

• Size and Build: Roosters are usually larger and more robust than hens. If Duchess appears larger or has a more muscular build, that might be a clue.

Most of my females are bigger than my males.

I think you are just going to want to try to put some more light on them, like Nabiki suggested, for a few weeks to stimulate their hormones to see if you can determine gender that way.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Vocalizations: You mentioned the "long distance flock search call." Generally, females make softer, cooing sounds, while males have more pronounced crowing. If she’s making a sound similar to crowing, it could indicate she’s a rooster, but it’s not definitive.

Females will make the flock search call too, and it sounds quite similar to crowing ime. I had one hen that did it all the time. Started calling her Froggy because of it

 

[Nabiki]

With coturnix quail, the males are usually smaller than the hens, but that's not always true since there are size differences between individual birds as well.