- Jul 14, 2010
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So it isn't as bad as that might sound initially. It was attacking ME.
I noticed yesterday that a male button quail was VERY unhappy that I took his mate's egg. Today he was more than unhappy. He was downright ANGRY about it.
In fact, he decided to attack the egg predator! He literally THREW himself at my hand when I reached in the cage past the water dish to get the egg. He was all puffed up to make himself look bigger. When that didn't work, he stepped back & tried a second time as I drew my hand back through the door!
In fact, for the next hour, anytime he saw me look like I was coming near them he went from normal to puffed up Tough Guy.
His mate nearly died a few weeks ago before I moved the birds out of the garage into their special Bird Room. She escaped when I opened the door of the cage & in the process of fleeing she flew into a wall & ended up with what was probably a pretty bad concussion. (She was unable to stand up or walk & would end up rolling onto her back until you helped her back upright). After 4 days of keeping their cage dark, and keeping water and feed right in front of her, she began to get more active again. She only started laying eggs again 2 or 3 weeks ago. I guess he's decided it's time they raise some children now that their love nest is back to normal. (They have a pen that's about 30" by 18" so plenty of room for a brood, but I'm not letting them!
Now, if it had been the cage below them, I'd have been less surprised. That's the one where the girl went broody -- didn't know she was hiding eggs up under the bedding. She still isn't back to laying yet. Those two are really flighty all the time. Wouldn't have surprised me as much if it had been THEM threatening to peck my eyes out!
I noticed yesterday that a male button quail was VERY unhappy that I took his mate's egg. Today he was more than unhappy. He was downright ANGRY about it.
In fact, he decided to attack the egg predator! He literally THREW himself at my hand when I reached in the cage past the water dish to get the egg. He was all puffed up to make himself look bigger. When that didn't work, he stepped back & tried a second time as I drew my hand back through the door!
In fact, for the next hour, anytime he saw me look like I was coming near them he went from normal to puffed up Tough Guy.
His mate nearly died a few weeks ago before I moved the birds out of the garage into their special Bird Room. She escaped when I opened the door of the cage & in the process of fleeing she flew into a wall & ended up with what was probably a pretty bad concussion. (She was unable to stand up or walk & would end up rolling onto her back until you helped her back upright). After 4 days of keeping their cage dark, and keeping water and feed right in front of her, she began to get more active again. She only started laying eggs again 2 or 3 weeks ago. I guess he's decided it's time they raise some children now that their love nest is back to normal. (They have a pen that's about 30" by 18" so plenty of room for a brood, but I'm not letting them!
Now, if it had been the cage below them, I'd have been less surprised. That's the one where the girl went broody -- didn't know she was hiding eggs up under the bedding. She still isn't back to laying yet. Those two are really flighty all the time. Wouldn't have surprised me as much if it had been THEM threatening to peck my eyes out!
