Broody roo?

[Captain Quark]

I feel so strange asking this. We started with a rescue quail that turned out to be a male. The wildlife center that had him figured he was young when they got him (I'm guessing less than eight weeks because he grew larger than when he was found). They kept him in a large dog crate for two months alone. Tried to home him with a farmer who put him in with chickens. Chickens did not accept him. Farmer took him into the house where he crowed and crowed until they sent him back to the wildlife center. Two more months pass and he ends up with us.

I'm new to quails but not to research and I immediately recognized he needed females. I obtained four young hens and he was finally content. He does have some unique behaviours, which I'm guessing are from his lonely stressed out upbringing. He has never attempted to fly, and when I add special treat foods (live worms or sunflower seeds) he makes his very loud happy sound (which alerts the girls, who immediately go steal his treat). Lately I've had a hen who is a bit broody but she has no follow through once she's gathered all the eggs under her. She'll sit for a half hour then forget about them. Moved all the birds recently to much larger pen where they picked a nesting spot. I noticed since the move that the roo seems protective of the eggs.

Didn't think much of it until today when he spent time digging up the area around the eggs that the semi-broody hen had shuffled all the eggs to. He dug up enough of the dirt that they were lightly buried, then he went and sat on them! It took live worms in the cage to get him to give up his guard. Do the males take turns sitting on the eggs to let the female have a break? Is he possibly sitting on them with purpose or just back to guarding them? I find it fascinating and would love to help them kick that instinct back on to naturally hatch their own eggs.

Picture of Captain Quark the roo

 

[shrimpsilkies]

Sounds like he is a well-behaved lad! He’s a good tid-bitter from the sound of things, my last male gave away all his treats immediately too. His son, my current male is a fatso and chases hens away from food, but at least he’s super gentle.
I’ve heard male button quail sometimes help with incubation, and possibly also Coturnix although I might’ve misread that. This definitely isn’t the norm though! Coturnix hens are usually defensive of their nests as the eggs get closer to hatching and might chase him off later. If not, I hope he becomes a good dad who will tidbit to his chicks! I am eagerly awaiting more news about their little family. Hopefully a bigger pen will allow a hen and maybe your roo to have a secluded nest site.

 

[kcan2]

Love his story! At one point, my roo was lonely (chicken) and now that I found him a hen, he occasionally "helps" her make the nest, sits in the nest, and guards the nest when she is busy. I know he thinks that he is helping but not sure what she thinks. Like your guy, he spent a few months alone (no hen or other chickens) so I think he is extra gentlemanly.
Sounds like your little guy has joined the gentleman's club!

 

[Crestcrazy2]

Very interesting ! I'll follow if you update if the eggs make it ! He sounds like an awesome roo !

 

[Captain Quark]

I've left those eggs in with them to see what they plan to do. We are starting our first incubation tomorrow night and I was planning on grabbing those fresh eggs but I'll leave them in for a bit and try not to disturb that corner. What a delight it would be to see then hatch out some eggs!

 

[Crestcrazy2]

I've left those eggs in with them to see what they plan to do. We are starting our first incubation tomorrow night and I was planning on grabbing those fresh eggs but I'll leave them in for a bit and try not to disturb that corner. What a delight it would be to see then hatch out some eggs!

Oh that's awesome !

 

[FloorCandy]

Both my adult Roos will sit on eggs and protect the hens as they sit. I take the eggs, but even tho they try, I think they would be terrible at it. My hens will go get a drink, see different eggs, and sit on those. Sometimes they sit with half the eggs not covered. If they had 50 eggs, they might successfully hatch 3 lol.

 

[007Sean]

I feel so strange asking this. We started with a rescue quail that turned out to be a male. The wildlife center that had him figured he was young when they got him (I'm guessing less than eight weeks because he grew larger than when he was found). They kept him in a large dog crate for two months alone. Tried to home him with a farmer who put him in with chickens. Chickens did not accept him. Farmer took him into the house where he crowed and crowed until they sent him back to the wildlife center. Two more months pass and he ends up with us.

I'm new to quails but not to research and I immediately recognized he needed females. I obtained four young hens and he was finally content. He does have some unique behaviours, which I'm guessing are from his lonely stressed out upbringing. He has never attempted to fly, and when I add special treat foods (live worms or sunflower seeds) he makes his very loud happy sound (which alerts the girls, who immediately go steal his treat). Lately I've had a hen who is a bit broody but she has no follow through once she's gathered all the eggs under her. She'll sit for a half hour then forget about them. Moved all the birds recently to much larger pen where they picked a nesting spot. I noticed since the move that the roo seems protective of the eggs.

Didn't think much of it until today when he spent time digging up the area around the eggs that the semi-broody hen had shuffled all the eggs to. He dug up enough of the dirt that they were lightly buried, then he went and sat on them! It took live worms in the cage to get him to give up his guard. Do the males take turns sitting on the eggs to let the female have a break? Is he possibly sitting on them with purpose or just back to guarding them? I find it fascinating and would love to help them kick that instinct back on to naturally hatch their own eggs.

Picture of Captain Quark the roo

Although I didn't keep Coturnix for very long...I wouldn't be surprised if they did share responsibilities. Check out this thread!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/awesome-surprise.1422275/

 

[Quaicken108]

My friend recently had a female Japanese quail go broody and the male helped incubate the eggs. I think it’s not unusual but lots of people find it hard to even get a broody hen let alone a roo! Lol! Update us on how they go!

 

[shrimpsilkies]

Although I didn't keep Coturnix for very long...I wouldn't be surprised if they did share responsibilities. Check out this thread!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/awesome-surprise.1422275/

Bobwhite males actually will brood eggs exactly like a hen, I believe. New world quail have both parents take care of them, except when in bobs the female leaves to lay another clutch and the male is left to brood them.