Bobwhite Trio??

[offshorewife]

My neighbor and I are going to purchase a dozen day old bobwhite quail. When she spoke with the guy he told her you could not keep a trio of bobwhite together that they mate a 1/1 ratio. That doesn't sound right to me. She is going to keep the majority of them and I wanted only a trio as payment for brooding them out for her. Can you keep a trio is my question 2 females/1 male? They will have a large cage/coop to themselves so plenty of room.

 

[aprophet]

with a large enough pen maybe, seems like one of the hens usually figgers out she is boss

 

[offshorewife]

so typically they are kept in pairs only?

 

[crash0330]

Not nessesarilly in fact most people I know have their breeding stocks as trios, sometimes more than three but always just one roo, in my experience females can be aggressive toward other females but it's not as bad as an aggresive male. I think a trio with 2 hens and a roo will be fine.

 

[JJMR794]

As crash said you certainly can keep them in trios or quads 1 roo only... Now having said that there are more than a few nasty bob hens out there. You can find bob hens that will not tolerate any other roommates than a roo. I have both trios and pairs--- Its all dictated by the hens. I even have 1 hen that can only be in the pen with my biggest roo( about 28 1/2 oz) and usually about once every 2 weeks or so she beats the snot out him! The lil guys dont stand a chance against her

 

[offshorewife]

Thanks! I guess we will try a trio and see what happens.

 

[aprophet]

I did,nt mean to imply you can,t keep trios I have a few I also have a few pairs that used to be trios like JJis saying there are a few hens that want their beau all to themselves . I think where the male is at the top of the pecking order there is no problem but when one of the hens is at the top of the pecking order there will be problems . My work really gets going when the weather heats up (HVAC/R) right now I have lots of time to keep an eye on my birds ,in between service calls . good luck with your project .