Bad Quail!

[Goldendog]

I took in 5 quail that needed a home. All 5 had been together for months during the winter in a small cage in a dark barn. I have come to know that I have 4 hens and one roo. The largest of the hens pecked the roo so badly that I thought he would lose his eye. I moved him and one hen to another cage. At that time I thought I had 3 hens and 2 roos but I had been misinformed. All was well for weeks until it started warming up outside, brighter sun, breeding time...he is really roughing up the poor hen that is with him. They have plenty of room, hay to scratch in, sand bath, game bird crumbles, fresh water, fresh greens and a fan and ice water bath to cool them off when it gets over 90 degrees. I don't know what I should do-try to add another hen from my other cage to ease her burden?? I have been thinking maybe I should separate him from all the hens in his own cage but that seems cruel...
These are strictly pets, culling is not an option.
Any thoughts or ideas?

 

[le_bwah]

What species of quail are they? With Coturnix/Japanese quail, I'd not be surprised that a 1:1 sex ratio isn't working out, as for them it rarely does. If Coturnix, I'd sex them all one more time to be sure, then try to put them together again under supervision. Separating a single flock bird permanently is always cruel, so I'd avoid that if I were you.

Also, I'm going to be opinionated here—as a flock owner, culling should always be an option. The animals' quality of life comes before our individual discomforts. Having a healthy flock sometimes requires that we kill weak, injured, or overly aggressive animals. Because, much of the time, if we don't do it, another bird in the flock will.

 

[Ebony Rose]

Absolute minimum hens per roo with coturnix quail should be three, and even then, many a randy-roo will over mate his flock.