There have been a lot of people asking about housing for bobwhites, and how aggressive they are. While some people keep them in colonies there is fighting. Keeping them in pairs and trios is a way to reduce pecking because there is only one rooster so that eleminates fighting for dominance. If kept in a colony pen 1 male to 1-3 females is a pretty good ratio to ensure fertility. If kept on the ground they will need to be wormed regularly. They are best kept on wire, and will sometimes lay year round with artificial lighting but since they are seasonal breeders fertility will suffer. When a bird looks sick or is hurt immediatley remove it and don't be hesitant to cull. These birds are very aggressive and putting them in pairs will not eliminate all problems. Sometimes hens will fight for dominance too, and this can be just as serious as roosters fighting. As chicks if they are too hot they will peck. Some people brood at lower temperatures and use red heat lamps to reduce pecking. Many people beleive that this distorts their vision, but this may not always be the case. If you are planning to release they need to be kept in a large flight pen with little to no human contact. When released most will not survive, but there are exeptions. They need around 2 aquare feet per bird if kept in coveys. I hope this will help a few people who are deciding on what kind of quail to get.
