Button quail: when to separate

[nurse_turtle]

I have 34 button quail aged 2 1/2 weeks. At what age can they be accurately sexed and separated into pairs? I understand these birds do not live in groups or coveys. There is minimal squabbling at this time but there is some pecking and other shows of dominance. They are getting used to drinking from a nipple waterer and eating game bird food. Millet sprays every couple of days. Can I use DE in their bedding? Thanks you guys!

 

[xchairity_casex]

most people can sex them at 4 weeks im able to start at 3 weeks youll begin to see sprouts of red vent feathers coming in around then. i begin seperating mine at like 5 weeks

 

[Stellar]

You can separate same age pairs around 5 weeks of age IF you can tell their sex. You may have to wait until sexual maturity, which would be between 8-12 weeks of age. The colors are more evident during adulthood, you can see the vent feathers and breast feathers clearer and vent sexing is so much easier as the females will look like females in their vent area. I usually keep them together until I can decide which is which. I can tell the Red breasted and blue breasteds easy and those get paired faster.