Growing out males

[Kim_NC]

Our first quail are now 3 1/2 weeks old. So far, so good...everyone is thriving, no deaths, feathers filling in nicely. Looks like in another week we'll be certain of sexes. Their chest feathers are filling in now. So, to grow out the males....

Can I separate them from the hens, but keep the roos all together? We only intend to keep the extra roos until processing age. Will they be alright together as long as they can't see females (like young chicken roos)?

 

[Whitehouse Quail]

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I think so, that's what I do and never had any problems. They may start picking on each other after a while, but I gave some males one square foot apiece and they didn't have any issues. I was shocked.

 

[Valley quail breeder]

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Hey neighber good to see someone near me I'm in Guilford County

What type of quail?

 

[ksukristin]

I've got my coturnix boys in a "bachelor pad" on the other side of the yard from the girls...they do fine.

 

[Kim_NC]

Thanks for the help. OK...I'll try them together with plenty of space.

Quote:
Hey neighber good to see someone near me I'm in Guilford County

What type of quail?

Hiya neighbor! We were over your way this afternoon! Had to go by stigall road on the way home from the Winston Salem market.

The quail are Jumbo Coturnix. Cute little things.

 

[Valley quail breeder]

The Jumbo Coturnix are great to eat and there eggs are good hardboiled and in a salad

Quote:
Hey neighber good to see someone near me I'm in Guilford County

What type of quail?

Hiya neighbor! We were over your way this afternoon! Had to go by stigall road on the way home from the Winston Salem market.

The quail are Jumbo Coturnix. Cute little things.

 

[JJMR794]

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they should do fine for you so long as they have adequate space.

 

[Kim_NC]

We're really excited about them. Hoping by the end of the week to sex and separate them. And can't wait to try the first eggs!

 

[Kim_NC]

Well, they're separated. Looks like 12 males and 10 females.

How do you decide which males to keep for breeding stock? Some are bigger than the others. Would the bigger ones make better stock for breeding?

Some of them also have more reddish breasts, does that matter?

 

[lagpmgdsls]

I try to keep the biggest ones for breeding.

I don't think variations in chest color matter but someone else may chime in with more experience.