Female chasing male

[Dave31842]

The two button quail were doing fine, except the last couple of days the female is chasing the male around the cage and keeps pecking at him. Could this be a sign on stress. I have had them for 3 weeks and they were originally raised outside (about 8 or so weeks old). They lay together all the time and groom each other?? Thanks for any advice.
Dave

 

[DK newbie]

Only time I've seen a female show aggression towards a male has been within the first two weeks they've been together or when the female wanted him to get further away (about 2½ feet seems to be the 'acceptable' distance for a hen that doesn't want anyone near) from her nest. As yours have been together for more than two weeks, I assume giving them more room would help. Or maybe it's just something she needs to get over..

 

[Dave31842]

Thanks DK. I will just keep an eye on them. It's not an every day thing so you are probably right.
Dave

 

[microchick]

I have a junior rooster in my flock, a yr old Lavender Orpington that weighs about 13-15 pounds. He's a moose but a beautiful moose and as solid built as a rock. I cracked up one day when he tried to approach one of my diminutive Welsummer hens to mate. She immediately voiced her unwillingness to submit to him and when she screamed out her protest, it startled him and he let her go. Instead of making her escape, she turned around and gave him a hard peck and then chased him across the run trying her best to peck him again as if saying "WHEN I SAY NO I MEAN NO!"

It was simply hilarious to see this little hen half his size if not less chasing down this Arnold Schwarzenneger-ish rooster and giving him a piece of her mind. By that time the flock Alpha Rooster had intervened, attracted by the racket and took over the attitude adjustment. Poor boy just didn't have a chance so I'd say it's probably normal for the girls to protest at times if the rooster's attentions are unwelcome.

 

[Dave31842]

Well, the female (couple #2) has finally settled down again and they are doing some grooming. I have not seen them do any mating yet but I don't watch them all day. However, (couple #1) were mating a couple of days ago and yesterday I found an egg in the cage. I can't be sure it is fertile but I made a quick make shift incubator out of a 1 gal plastic container. I put 4 1" holes in the top and 4 around the sides, put I aspen shavings stuck in a light socket and a 25 w bulb. I put the egg on a wash cloth that I folded and loosely laid a single layer of the wash cloth over the egg. I dampened the cloth to create humidity. When I checked the temp and humidity the temp was staying at about 96-98, the humidity was up to 40%. I need to bring the humidity up to around 60-70%. I am not sure that the egg is fertile but time will tell. This is her first laying. Maybe I will get another couple of eggs. Wetting the wash cloth is working because the humidity is not at 50%. I don't remember how long it takes eggs to start hatching, I quess I need to look it up. I gotta tell ya though, this a great chat forum. I also am on a shooting forum which I really enjoy because I like shooting. The people on this site seem to be much more personable.

Dave