Can we have a little talk on breeding season? Coturnix

[kahlertm]

I asked earlier about selecting or culling roos that could be nasty. You all gave some good answers.

Now. I have what I thought would be a nice roo in with 5 females. He appears to have two favorites who are submissive to him. The other three avoid him like the plaque and are thus being pecked in the eye, and starting to worry me with the damage they are receiving.

a. Acceptable?- give it time and they will succumb...it takes time for a young male to learn the nuances of the procedure?

b. Take the females out and wait to pair them with someone else...(but then I worry that he will wear out his two submissives.

c. More are coming up in age...I can "colony" the situation and allow different roos to pair with females who may accept them. ?

I am starting to see Buttercup's observation in how a female may...may, just make the choice. Two of these females had a different mate prior. They are not having the newer handsomer (according to stupid me) fellow. He is young and obnoxious and has NOT got the smooth moves. Been there, done that. Understand...

But, for the sake of "breeding for what characteristics I am trying to get"...I wanted this fellow in with these girls. Heck, I wanted him in with these girls just to finally have a better female male ratio..with a looker male.

One of my favorite girls is sporting a "black eye" and another is starting to look like he is hitting her pretty hard above the eye as well frequently. Darn I wish they would just submit, but they run, hop and exhaust themselves to get away from punk boy.

Now...the earlier trio, (my first coturnix) had a similar "phase" one was a favorite, the other hated his guts until she was gooood and ready, then it was OK for a while. Until I realized two weren't enough for one roo.

I have tried to fix that now... and now here I am again, with this similar beat up female situation.

I have given them hiding spots. They use them. He runs at them and pecks their head. They run away...he does not pursue. If they come near his favorites, he pecks them in the head, they run away and go to their hiding spot. Now my best little layer is on a strike from laying and hiding all the time with a black eye.


Who wants to talk breeding behavior with me? Lets put it out on the table of what you will micromanage (and whether you think it good or bad to do so) and what you will just put in a colony pen and walk away.

I am at a loss as to when to step in and separate and re-pair (pun intended) or should I ... "just let it be woman!!!"
Put me in my place. What have I done wrong here. Or am I over reacting.

Respectfully,
Tonya

 

[cajunboy74]

I am interested to see what others say, I have 8 seperate pens on a long run of hanging wire cages. Each pen has 1 male with 5 hens, 6 of the pens the birds are beautiful, not a missing feather, laying fertile eggs, everyone happy. The other two pens is a bloodbath, feathers are missing, eyes are swollen shut, bloody heads. I have even replaced males in those two cages and the hens kill the male. I think I will cull all in those 2 pens and replace with my younger birds. I have about 200 birds between 2 and 4 weeks old.

 

[Riffecreek]

Before I post an opinion, I would like to know what colors we are talking about... Thats been my biggest problem..

 

[cajunboy74]

In my pens are jumbo browns and manchurian golds.

 

[kahlertm]

Fascinating.

He is Italian, his favorites are Italian. Most afraid and flighty?... a tie between Roux Dilute /Fawn/Cinnamon and a Tibetan/Rosetta/Range (I include all the different terms I read for the colors...one is the faded blonde sort and the other Tibetan. The third female who is slower to run away and almost acts as if she will receive him is a large but not quite Jumbo brown.

So He is preferring his own coloring? The she's are not prefering another color? Or ...I am starting to have a small predjudice with the Tibetan/Range as being just a tad more nervous...???

Also, the amount of space they are in is limited. It is a 3' by 2' cage. Not large. I do give them greens that are pinned up on the wires as "environmental enrichment" or as a distraction. Funny, they will do a "drive by peck" for food as they run from punk boy.

Tonya

 

[Riffecreek]

The reason I ask that question is, Every time I try to put different colors in with others in small numbers.. the odd colors always gets picked on if they haven't been raised together. You throw a white in with a pen full of browns and he wont stay white long!! If you even out the colors, they tend to be better suited but will still pick a little.. just more "different" birds to chase. I also put a nest box in with mine so they can hide if need be..

 

[Stellar]

Quote:

 

[kahlertm]

Thank you very, very much Alex. You're my gal. I will keep your answer for my "owner's manual"!

Tonya