Had to put down my first egg layer

[d73]

I have 14 coturnix and all of them were in the same cage. 4x8x4h
4 days ago one of my coturnix started laying eggs. She was mounted so much she had a bloody head.
So I started to make a new cage and seperate the males from the hens. But I was too late yesterday she fell over. So I tookher out and cleaned her up and put her in a small cage in my house. But today she still just lay there on one side. Breathing and looking around but not moving much. I think the males punchered her skull. I went to move her and noticed that the side she was laying on was stiff and hard.
So I did the only thing I thought I could do and that was to kill her.
I'm pretty sad about the whole thing because she was my first layer and all. Layed 3 eggs in 3 days and no of the others have layed yet.

I finished the other pen today and moved al the ones that crowed or had a rust color chest.
So now I have 6 hens in one pen 4x8x4h and 7 roos in the other. 3x8x4h
I was going to cull some of the roos once they got 8 weeks.

They seemed to all mount the egg laying hen and not the others or at least not so much. I did'nt know they would kill her.

This is my first time rasing quail but I think I got the sexing right by what I've read here.
Now males are the only ones that will crow? Just want to make sure.

 

[sonew123]

Im so sorry..I had to cull a 4 week old hen today too-bad legs and they finally gave out today--it's hard especially when they reach a point ( laying eggs) youve waited so long for ...

 

[monarc23]

Yes males are the only ones that crow (naturally) just like cases in chickens though hens with abnormal hormones can crow (but normally dont lay eggs then)....but ignore that fact.... if it crows im betting you its a roo. Also rusty chest if the birds color is wild colored.


Those 6 hens will be perfeclty fine with one roo, or you can keep two roos, put a roo in with 3 hens, so 2 groups of 3 hens and one roo per pen

Too many roos a pen are the quickest way to loose hens...you learned the hard way but you are doing right by then now and that's all that matters!!!

 

[becky3086]

I have no idea how many roos or hens I have. I have noticed that the males are very aggressive when they first start mating but they do calm down and stop hurting the hens.

 

[shelleyd2008]

The males probably were mating with the one that was laying, they won't mate until the hen is close to laying.