Bald back on an A&M?

[NancyDz]

So I have 11 A&M that are just turning 4 weeks tomorrow. Yesterday I noticed one of the 1 has a bald back of the head and his back... similiar to a hen that is getting too much action from a roo. Now so far I have seen no roo action or heard any crowing... is there anything else that could be causing this or am I just missing the action? Don't tell me I have 10 roos and one poor lil hen!!!!!!!!!!

That would be my luck...


I've looked it over and don't see mites or anything , it was fully feathered back there until yesterday.

Thanks

nancy

 

[shelleyd2008]

It could be mating, or it could be pecking. Try to watch them and see what's going on. Have you tried sexing them, or heard any crowing yet? 4 weeks is early, but not unheard of.

 

[NancyDz]

I havent tried sexing them, other than listening for roos. I was thinking it was too early.

I don't see anything going on but I can't watch them much as they are outside on my porch and ... well I gotta work

Nancy

 

[saddina]

Tomorrow's Sat, seems a good time to sit out with some iced tea* and observe the flock.

*or a good cocktail, whatever.

 

[NancyDz]

I'll be sitting with some "iced tea"* tomorrow at a Blues Festival in Coloma ... then on Sunday I'll be sitting in a limo with some friends going wine tasting all day for my friend's 40th....
so maybe I'll figure out Monday when I have a hangover, I can lay next to it on my lounge chair LOL

 

[bigjohn]

One thing I have noticed with my quail is that if I keep 1 about every 1 sq ft of space, they do not do a lot of pecking and plucking feathers from each others backs. Apparently, they are more stressful when they are not given ample space to run around.

Right now, I have 23 in a cage (2 x 4) that are 5 weeks old and they are beginning to pluck feathers. The other cage I have 7 in the same space and they are much happier and do much less pecking.

You can certainly keep coturnix in small cages in large groups, but you will have many 'not so pretty' birds with lots of missing feathers.

Just from my limited experience ...................

 

[JJMR794]

ITS MOST LIKELY A PECKING PROBLEM. TURN THE TEMP DOWN IN YOUR BROODER A LITTLE, PAINT THE INJURED AREA WITH BLUE COTE, GIVE THEM SOME STRUCTURE--- LIL HIDES TO GO TO FOR A REST AND TRY GIVING THEM A SHALLOW PAN OF PLAY SAND TO DUST BATHE IN.