PineconeQuail
In the Brooder
- Aug 4, 2021
- 9
- 5
- 11
Hi! I'm brand new here but have used other people's questions as resources for my quail and chickens for a while. I just can't find any answers to my particular problem, so I thought I would register and turn to you all for help.
First off, I have three cotturnix quail hens in a decently large cage. I have had them for a few months now and haven't had any issues with aggression - until today.
Yesterday I thought one of them was injured so I separated her and put her in a cage inside to keep an eye on her for 24 hours, and make sure her next egg lay was fine. It was - hooray! This evening when I went to put her back in with her sisters (they all came from the same batch of eggs) she attacked them both! I'd never seen any of them do any behavior like this. She chased after them, pecked, and made strange unhappy/growly noises. Every time there is enough light for her to see by, be it flashlight or landscape lights, she will launch herself at one of the other birds.
I opened up the coop door into the run so the bullied ones have somewhere to flee to come morning (usually I keep the coop part closed up tight to prevent predators from getting any bright ideas). I know introducing new birds to established flocks can be tricky, but this is her flock - she was only gone 24 hours!
Anyone know what I can do about this? Is this just pecking orders being reestablished and they'll go back to being cute little peeping fluffs soon? Help!
Thanks.
Edit:
I used FloorCandy's suggestion with a mix of muddy75's remove everyone, and NY Coturnix's idea of adding a feeder and waterer and it worked! I removed everyone into separate cages, cleaned EVERYTHING, refreshed the space so it looked new, and once I put them all back in at the same time after a few hours of being separated I sat and sniped at them with a water sprayer. Took about an hour of being soaked but the aggressive one calmed down, and and any little flare-ups that started between the others were stopped. Fingers crossed this remains in their little peabrains and they go back to loving eachother. THANKS SO MUCH for the advice everyone!
First off, I have three cotturnix quail hens in a decently large cage. I have had them for a few months now and haven't had any issues with aggression - until today.
Yesterday I thought one of them was injured so I separated her and put her in a cage inside to keep an eye on her for 24 hours, and make sure her next egg lay was fine. It was - hooray! This evening when I went to put her back in with her sisters (they all came from the same batch of eggs) she attacked them both! I'd never seen any of them do any behavior like this. She chased after them, pecked, and made strange unhappy/growly noises. Every time there is enough light for her to see by, be it flashlight or landscape lights, she will launch herself at one of the other birds.
I opened up the coop door into the run so the bullied ones have somewhere to flee to come morning (usually I keep the coop part closed up tight to prevent predators from getting any bright ideas). I know introducing new birds to established flocks can be tricky, but this is her flock - she was only gone 24 hours!
Anyone know what I can do about this? Is this just pecking orders being reestablished and they'll go back to being cute little peeping fluffs soon? Help!
Thanks.
Edit:
I used FloorCandy's suggestion with a mix of muddy75's remove everyone, and NY Coturnix's idea of adding a feeder and waterer and it worked! I removed everyone into separate cages, cleaned EVERYTHING, refreshed the space so it looked new, and once I put them all back in at the same time after a few hours of being separated I sat and sniped at them with a water sprayer. Took about an hour of being soaked but the aggressive one calmed down, and and any little flare-ups that started between the others were stopped. Fingers crossed this remains in their little peabrains and they go back to loving eachother. THANKS SO MUCH for the advice everyone!
Last edited: