Getting fed up with quail brutality

[jameskchandler]

Quail are the cutest, and can be the most vicious creatures. I have never had pets that would kill each other like the quail. Maybe that is why they are able to evolve and multiply so rapidly. They kill the weakest; the strongest survive, and reproduce more, with the same temperament. All we can do is weed out the meanest from our cages.

Cammy: Coturnix Quail should do fine with one roo, for three to five hens.

 

[kingpincray]

Quote:
You can't keep more than 1 male in a pen. If you do you will need at least 2-3 females to each male otherwise they will kill the other males if you haven't got enough space. I have had to put down the excess males.

 

[Hellybell]

I have exactly the same with my Coturnix quail.

It started with just being the girls getting stripped of feathers and taken advantage of but now the girls seem to be attacking the boys in defence and even defending each other.

The boy will jump on and another girl will race around behind pulling at him in every direction.

So long story short... now they're all balding! And i cant reduce light where i am because its mid summer and they're just not in adequate housing to remove a light source.

Will eagerly await to see what more ppl do.

Troubled...

Helen

 

[worldling]

Quote:
Hi Helen,
What you are describing sounds like coturnix getting their grove on. If you are just seeing picked feathers around the back of the neck in young (5-6 week old) hens, then that is normal.
With a little time, the roos will get better at their thing, and the hens will be more receptive. Less feather loss.
What's your pen floor space per pen and roo to hen mix?

 

[Hellybell]

The trouble is it started as that but they're bald down their back as well.

All of them are about 4-5 months old.

I just noticed this morning too that one of my girls has got a really bloody eye. Not sure how it happened but i wouldnt be surprised if it was from a roudy roo.

As for space they have about 1m sq for 2 roos and 4 hens. So i'd assume that was plenty of room from what i've read previously.

Had better go check my girly quail anyway. Hopefully she's ok.

 

[La Mike]

You can debeak them and stop most all of the pecking issue