Coturnix quail bullies...

[quail1999]

I think i will move their entire hutch into my greenhouse... not only will it be warmer there, but also during the day they will have the run of my 8x12 greenhouse! I think they will be much happier. I will tell you how it goes! Just one quick question, how many square feet do you give for every one of your quail?

Thanks for helping me resolve this. I guess quail really shouldn't be kept on wire....

 

[oldcluck]

How High a protein feed are you feeding. Not a quail expert but I believe that a quail fed too low of percent protein food will be more likely to pick on its mates. Make sure they are getting a balanced diet with all essential amino acids.

 

[FenDruadin]

If it's an age problem, you'll be able to re-combine them when the young ones have reached maturity, but in the meantime they must be separated. For now, separate any injured birds from all other birds, and all bullies from all other birds. You'll gradually be able to tell who can be combined with whom.

I agree, it is NOT normal for them to injure one another. Pecking order disputes will not draw blood or pull feathers, unless there is something wrong.

Good luck. I know those first few weeks or months of quail ownership can be stressful, because there is so little good information out there about how to do it right. Try the suggestions you've received, and keep us updated. We'll try to walk you through to a less stressful time.

 

[FenDruadin]

Whoops--I didn't see the entire thread before responding. Your plan sounds like a good one. I still suggest that you separate injured birds until they recover--raw skin and blood is an invitation to other birds to keep picking and injuring. Good luck!

Btw, mine get over 10 sq ft per bird, but I don't believe that much is strictly necessary as long as you maintain cleanliness for them. They'll love your greenhouse floor, and since they are ground birds, they won't try to get up on your shelves and damage your plants. However, they will dig around and eat anything green and any seeds at ground level. You've been warned!

 

[quail1999]

They have 24% protein diet, so plenty

We only have a few herbs growing in there because it's winter time There is nothing they could destroy.

Thanks for the answers!

 

[Sians quails]

What conditions are they in? The standard wire-bottomed, low cage is stressful for quail, especially if they are surrounded by wire. They are ground birds who enjoy cover, and like to hide, so a wire cage is really really hard on them. A sandbox or two goes a long way to helping with this problem. It gives them a place to retreat that doesn't feel like it's up high (because of the solid bottom), and high sides that feels like cover. Also, they enjoy digging in the sand, and it's comfortable to them. They'll also lay their eggs in there which keeps the eggs cleaner & easier to collect.

The won't generally go into an enclosed box, so hide boxes are wasted on them. They like to see but not BE seen, so give them opportunities to get into a hiding place that is open on at least two sides to see out. This is true for the sandboxes too--give them two high sides (to prevent excessive waste of sand) and two low sides--for ease getting in and out, and for visibility.

Finally, for extra happy quail, give them things to do. They like to dig in sandboxes, dig in dirt, and peck through weeds. I used to grab several handfuls of weeds and toss in their cage when I had quail on wire (mine are on dirt at ground level now), and they loved it. They'd come to the doors waiting for me every day.

my girls seem to love their hide box but thats probably because i put a kitty litter tray in there for their dust baths. they also will rarely lay an egg anywhere else!

when you pick your bunch of weeds..does it matter what they are? our place is full of weeds and it would be a great way to slowly pull them up but im worried ill give them something that will kill them... i live in perth australia if that helps

 

[FenDruadin]

About the weeds--hmm. About the only poisonous plant here is deadly nightshade so... I don't give them that. I also avoid anything with bright berries that I don't recognize, but I'm pretty familiar with the flora around here, so that's not usually an issue.

I *think* they would probably not eat anything poisonous, but I honestly can't say for your part of the world. I'm going to make a wild guess and suggest that you deal with more poisonous stuff than we do here.

I've never tried putting sand or dirt in the hide boxes--it makes sense that would change their minds about it. They do love dirt & sand!

 

[Sians quails]

thanks i think most of our weeds will be fine .. i hope ... well ill give it a go and if something happens..eek well ill have to deal with it then

I've put up pictures of my cages if they are in my profile you can have a look.. they seem to kick a lot of dirt out of the trays and if there isn't enough in there then they wont lay

i just ran out there and gave them some grass and that...
do the boys generally eat the grass and weeds and veggies and fruits? My one has never seemed to be interested in it (but he is a little ahhh "special" - pigeoned toed and not all quite right)
he is kept by himself (his female mate died a couple months ago and i don't particularly want to breed from him)

 

[quail1999]

Hello all!

I think you will by happy to know that i moved them out to the greenhouse, and they are all SO HAPPY. Even the ones who were picked on get along... When i first moved them out, 2 of them started crowing... Which was really bad because now i have 4 males and 6 females! I guess the guy i bought them from wasn't very good at sexing them... But they each have 10 square feet so they get along very well, with no blood shed or feathers pulled.

Also, they are SO much tamer out there... they crowd around my feet when i come in, and they are very cute.

It's going to be a bit more difficult to find eggs, but at least they are happy!

 

[FenDruadin]

YES!! I'm so happy for you and your quail. Another testimonial to the benefits of raising them on the ground with lots of space.