Bobwhites ~ The "Al Qaeda" of all quail species!!! (Just a Rant!!)

_Randall_

Songster
10 Years
Nov 3, 2009
1,085
14
151
Grenada, Ms
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I processed my Bobs down to what I thought was a rational ratio of males and females in my bigger (60 sq. ft) pen which had a total 15 females and 12 males. (Yeah, prolly need less males, but.......) Put the 17 hours of light to'em last week, and they had started to lay good the past 4 or 5 days. Also put some select Jumbo Wisconsins (1 male / 2 females) in 14 sq. ft. pens, thinking things would be just peachy......at least the 1:2 ratio scenario. Well, went out there yesterday, and one of the hens in the 1:2 setup had been scalped really bad from the crown of her head all down the back of her neck to the point where blood was fixin' to start flowing. She was balled up in a corner with her head tucked, and I thought she was dead at first. I opended the coop, and made her get up, and that's when I saw what was wrong. While I'm standing there, the other female walks up and starts in on that neck/head again..........then when I pushed her away and shut the door, the male comes in and does the same thing. (This bird is in bad shape). Sooooooo, I said OK, you're all going back into the colony pen (except for the scalped hen), and may the best bird(s) win.
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OK, so yes, I know what to expect when you go throwing new (so to speak) birds......expecially males......into a group of other Bobs (who already have more friction amongst themselves than a bearing without grease). By sundown, several of the males in the colony pen had run one of the "new" males dang near to death......catching up with him and snatchin' neck feathers like crazy. I had removed all of the pine limbs I had in the pen so I woudn't have to hunt for eggs, but I did go cut a couple of green, leafy limbs and stuck in the corner ......... and that was at least one place the poor fella could get and somewhat not get hammered as bad. But then again, one of the other resident males would sneak up in there and machine-gun that neck/head anyway. What I did notice is, I think if the "new kid on the block" would not constantly run wide open trying to find cover, the others would think less of jumping him, but since he's runnin' wide open with that head down, I'm sure they're thinkin' ......"You don't belong here, and I'm fixin' to take care of yo butt"........
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I had already read enough on here to expect a "testosterone explosion" among the males come breeding season, but DEDGUM..........makes me want to get the ol' Browning 12 gauge out, and go quail huntin'.
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Even before I put the "outsiders" back in the big pen, just watching the others.......it's amazing to see how "hateful" this breed can be. And it's not just male-on-male..........it's pretty much one just walking by another, no matter what sex.........and just going for that neck and head. Arrrrggggghhhhhhh

It's not too cold..........They've been on hi-protein feed their whole lives.............They've got a castle for a coop............ All I know to say is.........They're Just Bobwhites!!!

Thanks for listenin' to my rant........
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Well, I expected to have a case of mortality on my hands when I got home from work this evening, but all were alive......and the same male "stranger" was still runnin' for his life from the other wicked little monsters. Was gettin' 10 eggs.............only got 2 today. I guess all the abnormal activity caused the layers to lose their rhythm......
 
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I had one poor male Bob that the rest decided was only allowed to live in the gap between the bricks that supported the waterer. We thought he was dead until we tried to pick him up. They would let him out once a day to have food and water and then would chase him back under the waterer.

Moved him into a pen with 3 females who he proceeded to scalp!

Bobs are vicious little creatures!
 

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