Female quails won't let Male quail mate with them.

[Broodermy]

I have some coturnix quails which are golden in colour. I have a slight problem in 1 pen though. All the other pens seem to be fine, mating well and producing eggs but in this particular pen the females which are with the Male won't let him mount let alone mate with them. I pity him since he tries every morning and evening. Should I replace the females or the Male? Or shall I give them some time till spring? Tks

 

[Kale the Quail]

if you want fertilized eggs from that specific male/ those specific females you should probably switch the male so unless the females start bullying him or something you can leave them how they are

 

[Ebony Rose]

You didn't mention if this pen is already laying, had a different cock in the past, grew up together... etc. Just thinking that if the hens aren't quite mature yet (for whatever reason), they will reject his advances; and if he's a young cock and hormonal, he might not care, and try to mate anyhow.

 

[Broodermy]

You didn't mention if this pen is already laying, had a different cock in the past, grew up together... etc. Just thinking that if the hens aren't quite mature yet (for whatever reason), they will reject his advances; and if he's a young cock and hormonal, he might not care, and try to mate anyhow.

Hi, thanks so much for your kind reply. One of the females had already layed 1 egg when I got her but then stopped, the others were quite small in size but the Male was already crowing. Over all, with these guys I never had anyone lay or mate. And the poor roster roosts quite a bit in the mornings and evenings. The other males in the other pens don't roost nearly as much as him. Tks again

 

[Ebony Rose]

Hi, thanks so much for your kind reply. One of the females had already layed 1 egg when I got her but then stopped, the others were quite small in size but the Male was already crowing. Over all, with these guys I never had anyone lay or mate. And the poor roster roosts quite a bit in the mornings and evenings. The other males in the other pens don't roost nearly as much as him. Tks again

I believe the one that laid then stopped is feeling stress, possibly being over mated as the only hen you currently have that is of age. Cocks are sexually mature earlier than the hens. The others that were 'quite small' were possibly from a following batch... which would put them close to 2 1/2 to 3 weeks behind the others (assuming only one incubator and a non-staggered hatch from your source).

Do you have a second cage that you could move the cock into for a week or two? I'm not suggesting this as a permanent fix, more as a way to let the little ones 'catch up' and the stressed hen to catch her breath. This separation time would also allow your cock to settle his hormones down a peg or two. Seems like they hit sexual maturity and go crazy for awhile.

Once your hens have started laying eggs, would be an excellent time to reintroduce him (unless you discover that some of those little ones are ALSO cocks).
If that is the case, you may need to determine how you wish to deal with that issue. More cages? Re home the excess cocks? Make room in the freezer?

 

[Broodermy]

I believe the one that laid then stopped is feeling stress, possibly being over mated as the only hen you currently have that is of age. Cocks are sexually mature earlier than the hens. The others that were 'quite small' were possibly from a following batch... which would put them close to 2 1/2 to 3 weeks behind the others (assuming only one incubator and a non-staggered hatch from your source).

Do you have a second cage that you could move the cock into for a week or two? I'm not suggesting this as a permanent fix, more as a way to let the little ones 'catch up' and the stressed hen to catch her breath. This separation time would also allow your cock to settle his hormones down a peg or two. Seems like they hit sexual maturity and go crazy for awhile.

Once your hens have started laying eggs, would be an excellent time to reintroduce him (unless you discover that some of those little ones are ALSO cocks).
If that is the case, you may need to determine how you wish to deal with that issue. More cages? Re home the excess cocks? Make room in the freezer?

Hi, thanks so much for your in depth reply I will remove the cock and keep the others to settle down for now. I'm pretty sure they are all females I will reintroduce him once they are laying or at least reached maturity like you said. If I'm wrong about a female I will make room in the freezer . Thanks again and I sure do hope it works out thanks again