For those who eat their quails

[SweetieChicken234]

Ah yeah, I've learnt the hard way with having the courage to dispatch after raising the chicks from eggs. Waking up to a blood bath in the boys pen did the job!

Currently on my second batch of 11 Italien corturnix chicks, most of which are boys. I'm not saying it'll be super easy this time... but I feel a bit more ready to try and prevent the same violence again! And... those boys were tasty last time. So.

Yikes!! Does this mean you have to sex them asap and remove the extra boys?

 

[Nabiki]

Yikes!! Does this mean you have to sex them asap and remove the extra boys?

The sooner you separate them, the better. If you can keep them where they can't see or hear the girls, there is a lower chance of violence. It also helps if you keep them in a dim place. Nothing will stop it completely, but those two things help.

 

[SweetieChicken234]

The sooner you separate them, the better. If you can keep them where they can't see or hear the girls, there is a lower chance of violence. It also helps if you keep them in a dim place. Nothing will stop it completely, but those two things help.

Ok so put my females outside in the cage and maybe 1 male that I need? Then rest of the males inside with dim lighting?

 

[Nabiki]

Ok so put my females outside in the cage and maybe 1 male that I need? Then rest of the males inside with dim lighting?

Sounds about right. You want a 1:5 ratio, though that's a general rule with some leeway to it.

 

[SweetieChicken234]

Sounds about right. You want a 1:5 ratio, though that's a general rule with some leeway to it.

Ok maybe 2 males if I have 10-12 females

 

[Nabiki]

Ok maybe 2 males if I have 10-12 females

If you're going to keep them all together you will need plenty of space and lots of hiding places. The two males may still fight, but there is a better chance of them getting along if they can get away from each other.

 

[SweetieChicken234]

If you're going to keep them all together you will need plenty of space and lots of hiding places. The two males may still fight, but there is a better chance of them getting along if they can get away from each other.

Ok. I don't know how many I have of each gender but mostly looking for just a small group of females with 1 male. I don't want any issues with 2 males.

 

[Nabiki]

If you're not planning on hatching your eggs you don't need a male at all. You can keep one male with more females and you will simply have a lower fertility rate.

 

[SweetieChicken234]

If you're not planning on hatching your eggs you don't need a male at all. You can keep one male with more females and you will simply have a lower fertility rate.

I would like to hatch more but not for awhile. Probably like 6 months out. Definitely not right now. If I have too many females are they easy to sell?

 

[Nabiki]

Females are very easy to sell. Males are much harder.