Dumb question re: aggressive coturnix

[BorderKelpie]

I am wondering if it is normal for my females (the speckled chested ones, right?) to be aggressive toward me. When I feed them, the girls rush the cage doors and have bitten me. It doesn't hurt, but it surprised me. It now happens every time I go into their cages. The boys seem ok, just the girls. These are my first ever quail so I am really hoping that I am not doing something wrong unintentionally. When I got them, some had missing feathers, the feathers are growing back. Are they just really hungry from regrowing feathers or am I starving them somehow? (and OMG can they pack away some food!)
I feed chick starter crumbles and ground up kitten food in separate bowls so they can choose what they want/need. I also give them greens from my garden every other day. I don't know if they really need those. I just offer it for them to hide in or play with. (I believe in behavioral enhancement, too much time entertaining intellegent dogs and parrots, I guess lol). They are really cute, but not really all that bright, are they? Or, am I missing something?
Also, can I give them toys or something? Maybe parakeet mirrors or bells, maybe some colorful beads on a string? each cage has a dust bowl and a nest box. What else would they like/need?
TIA

 

[thebirdfarm]

I am not sure as to what toys to give them. I raise mine strictly for meat, but I do know they really like to dust bath. As far as them biting you that is just them associating you with feeding them. They sound a little bit hungry, but to be honest with you I think they are always hungry. I have heard of some who raise them for meat only feeding them for 12 hours and then removing feed for the next 12. I guess you get bettter feed to weight gain ratios. I am too lazy though so I just try to always keep the feeder full.

 

[BorderKelpie]

Thank you. I was so afraid I wasn't feeding enough, but they have gotten heavier and 'squishier' since I got them a few weeks ago. Little pigglets is what they are. lol

 

[farrier!]

Everything sounds fine to me.

I feel the coturnix are the dairy cattle of the bird world. Not too bright to start with and then bred to be passive (dumb)

Makes it really easy to keep them content!

 

[BorderKelpie]

Ok, thank you. I feel better then.
I got them on impulse really. Then I felt badly because I know nothing about them. As time goes by, I like them more and more. Not too bright, but rather entertaining. I had planned on just eating them, but of the 9, 4 already have names, I give up. I guess I'll try for eggs at least. lol
They're just so squishy feeling. I love that. I'm used to birds being firm and muscular, these are fat.
I have the opportunity to get some A&M quail, can I mix them with the coturnix?

 

[farrier!]

They mix fine.
Eating gets easier when you hatch out all the eggs you will be getting..

We have not managed to eat any of our chickens but have done quail.

 

[Byrdj]

farrier! :

They mix fine.
Eating gets easier when you hatch out all the eggs you will be getting..

We have not managed to eat any of our chickens but have done quail.

Does that mean you have kept them so long that they are too old to produce eggs?​

 

[farrier!]

It means I have managed to finally kill something, quail, but have not managed to butcher any chickens.

 

[Byrdj]

Farrier. I still have trouble bringing myself to slaughter my chickens. Maybe because the all look a little different from each other and it takes a little more effort to kill them than quail. I don't think it will be as hard to kill my quail because they all look alike, I'm only keeping them 6-8 weeks so want make them pets, and plan on snipping their heads off with sharp scissors.

Two weeks ago I bought a rooster and three hens. I had to seperate a hen because she was so agressive, especially to the rooster and bloodied him up. She started making cricket sounds and laid the first egg today so I put her back in the main pen. The rooster was immediately trying to mount her and she let him. Go figure! Glad I waited, I was about to put her on my grill.

It looks like he is having trouble sucessfully mating. Anyone else had this problem? Maybe he's sucessful and it just doesn't look like it. Cold a wire floor make it more difficult?

 

[farrier!]

Mine do fine on the wire floor...

Quail definitely do not have the personality of chickens. We have 3 roosters I need to cull or ship. After feeding them the idea of eating them sounds fine but I just cant seem to do it yet....