fighting Quail

[Swamp Roo]

I have an excess of cortunix quail in two pens. I will be butchering extras within a week or so (not sooner because of outside influences). The problem I'm having is that the males are beating the snot out of each other. No deaths, but it's a close thing, lots of blood etc.. Will segregating males and females help stop or curb this? I haven't tried it because I'm concerned that changing the dynamics of the coveys might cause just as much fighting.

Thanks
Swamp

 

[JJMR794]

SEPERATING THE SEXES MAY HELP A LIL BIT, IF THEY ARE FAR ENOUGH APART...

AS FAR AS THE WOUNDS AND IT HELP WITH THE PICKING AS WELL, I PAINT THEM WITH BLUE KOTE-- IT HELPS THE HEALING PROCESS AND WONT HARM THE BIRD FOR MEAT USE. AND SINCE IT HAS A BAD TASTE IT HELP PROHIBIT PICKING....

 

[Swamp Roo]

The pens are out of sight of each other, so I guess that would be far apart enough. RE: Blue Kote, I'd own those very rare blue headed swap quail! LOL! I'll give the stuff a shot if I need to. They are tough little buggers though, one of the poor little guys was so swollen both eye had shut. He is doing fine now. I put the worst cases in "hospital" pen (my live trap).

Thanks,
Swamp

 

[shelleyd2008]

If the males are already fighting, seperating them won't help. The only way to stop it is to cull them. So if you don't have any cages you could put them in, you should figure out some other way of culling.

You could try covering their cages, so they are in total darkness. This would decrease their drive to breed, and might deter their fighting.

 

[bigjohn]

This may or may not help your situation, but I take the offending quail and take finger nail clippers and clip the top beak back a bit. Kind of like cutting your finger nail back. They cannot 'grab' on as easily and do quite as much damage to the other birds. I rarely ever do this since I give my birds a bit more room than usual, but do on occasion clip a few. Especially mean hens!

 

[peepsnbunnies]

Hey Swamp Roo -
I sent you a PM.

Lisa