Cranky Birds - stopped laying - pecking each other - ANY IDEAS???

[cotekim]

I have 4 Coturnix quail - 3 hens and one rooster. Recently, I moved them from the basement where it's chilly (50-65°F) to the garage where it's freezing (15°F last night). I live in Buffalo, NY. I'm trying to move the animals out of the human house and into the "barn," if you will. I would like for this to be their permanent home. I hatched the birds in October and have kept them in the basement all winter. Since they were just little babies I didn't want them to suffer out in the cold. I know quail are supposed to be hardy animals and can withstand temps of as low as -20°F, but I think they hate it out there and I don't know what to do. I have a heat lamp in the daytime and a space heater at night. They don't run for treats anymore. There used to be a feeding frenzy every time I brought out a hard boiled egg or meal worms, but now I get almost no response from them. They are pecking each other. They girls won't let the male around them. He isn't even trying to mate with them anymore as far as I can see. In the basement he was on them like every 20 minutes! I can't even keep them inside their cages anymore without them hurting each other. Right now I'm letting them "free range" in the garage. They have access to their cages and food and water and heat, but I can't close the cages with more than one inside or they hurt each other. With the full space of the garage they seem to have enough room to run away from each other. It just seems silly to have so much space for only 4 little birds who aren't even giving me eggs anymore!!! Also, I have 2 out of 8 promising-looking eggs in the incubator right now. What's the best way to introduce the babies into "the barn" and the flock? AND I'm adding a dozen bantam cochin eggs to the incubator tomorrow as long as the USPS delivers them on time. I am hoping to share the same "barn" space in the garage with the quail. Any thoughts on that? ...Aack! I've turned into the crazy bird lady!!!

 

[flo12345]

You sound like you've got quite the situation goin on there! I would have a separate area for your new chicks you're hatching. Give them a run outside and a nice little coop of their own.
For your quail I really don't know... I've never had quail before so I'm not sure what they're like.
This is just an idea, but what if you just had them free in the garage/barn with their food and water out no cages or anything? Kind of like a giant chicken coop. From my poultry experience I know that birds don't like to be squished into small spaces with other birds. My coop is to small at the moment (i'm building a new one this year) and I have had lots of problems with feather picking and such.
I really hope this helps! Best of luck with your silkies and quail! And keep me posted!
flo12345

 

[cotekim]

Yes, I'm finding that leaving them in the garage with access to their cages, but with the cages open so they are free to roam is seeming to keep the peace. Even so, this morning the biggest girl, Kahleesi, was making her "angry donkey squeeks" at the most timid girl. I think she's been pecking her head, too. Today I added another heat lamp and I left the space heater on. So, in total, they have 2 heat lamps and a space heater on their 2 cages. The temp outside right now is 19°F. It's only supposed to get up to 25°F today and down to 17°F tonight. So, it's cold, but could this behavior be caused by the big girl going broody? I just read something about that. That they start attacking the other birds when they go broody? Is that a thing? And if it is, what can I do about it?

 

[karlwakim]

No need to post twice.
Try removing the lamps. I've heard that lamps can cause quail to act aggressively. You can use blue lamps I think.

 

[flo12345]

Sounds good if you ever get any open wounds or big bare spots try blu kote. It worls great! Don't know what I'd do without it. I agree with karlwakim, removing the heat lamps might help. never had quail but my chickens acted really weird when I had a light on in the coop

 

[cotekim]

So, I kept the 2nd heat lamp on as well as the space heater on today and they freaking loved it. There moods were definitely better. I think they were just cold. But there is definitely something going on with Kahleesi. She is so big and mean and bossy lately. I feel like it must be something with the pecking order, bird psychology, broodiness?? I don't understand. She's such a bully. Not really sure what else I can do about it but keep them warm until the weather improves and make sure the others have a way to escape her. I don't really want to lock her in a cage by herself and I also don't really want to eat her for dinner, but if it continues, those seem to be my choices. I've got new babies joining the flock as early as Thursday. Looks like we'll really have to take our time and be careful introducing them to the flock.

 

[flo12345]

I had a bully chicken last year. I quarantined her for about a week and she decided it was better to be nice than to spend time in the pen of shame alone. lol Think about not adding more your new chicks to the flock you already have. Start a second flock if you can. Best of luck with your birds!
Flo12345