Colour Changing Quail

[Chickem707]

So i brought a few Jumbo Italian Quail around 2 years ago, and all were yellow birds. Recently, one of my quails heads has turned completely brown. Anyone had this before or know why? Thanks for any help
(Pictured: before & after)

 

[Kayles Quail Farm]

So i brought a few Jumbo Italian Quail around 2 years ago, and all were yellow birds. Recently, one of my quails heads has turned completely brown. Anyone had this before or know why? Thanks for any help
(Pictured: before & after)

I haven't noticed this with any of our bird but I will be watching them. I'll be following this post. What are you feeding them?

 

[muddy75]

So i brought a few Jumbo Italian Quail around 2 years ago, and all were yellow birds. Recently, one of my quails heads has turned completely brown. Anyone had this before or know why? Thanks for any help
(Pictured: before & after)

It appears to be normal head coloring of a mature male

 

[007Sean]

It appears to be normal head coloring of a mature male

I'm not that familiar with Coturnix quail but does it take 2 years for a male Italian to get its adult plumage? I would think that it was a hen that has either loss or injured her ovaries and thus the plumage change to male? Just my thoughts.

 

[BrandonsBirbs]

Are you sure it's the same quail? They look different in other places too.. especially their beaks... normal head colouring for a boy

 

[Hiram Means]

I'm pretty @007Sean is right. It definitely doesn't take that long for a coturnix quail to mature to male plumage. I know that at least female pheasants sometimes do this weird thing where they molt into male colors and stop producing eggs.

Also, because male is 'default' for birds (i.e having two Z chromosomes makes it male, and a Z in addition to a W makes it female) it is possible that if the source of the female hormones is impaired or removed, they will color male. However, for the record, it's not actually changing sex and will not be able to produce any offspring.

 

[BrandonsBirbs]

Can always vent sex them

 

[Chickem707]

I haven't noticed this with any of our bird but I will be watching them. I'll be following this post. What are you feeding them?

They’re on a high protein chick starter

 

[Chickem707]

Are you sure it's the same quail? They look different in other places too.. especially their beaks... normal head colouring for a boy

It could be different one, i just posted a picture of how they all used to look for comparison as they essentially looked the same.

 

[Nabiki]

Looks a like a normal male. It's not uncommon for some colour change to happen when they molt. The subtle changes can add up over time.