Help! Aggressive male quail!

[Quail Jailer]

I highly doubt its a raccoon, Coturnix are not scared of them, yes they should be, but they are not smart enough.

user DC3085 has videos of coons at night "visiting" his quail, they walk right over to the coon to see whats going on, no fear.

your problem is hormones and personality.

you could cover the pen so that the birds cannot see whats out there.


DC's videos are posted here on this site, check them out.

 

[ebritthasquail3]

Quail Jailer - Interesting. Okay, thanks. It sounds like you know what you're talking about. I raised chickens for several years, but new to raising quail. I do cover their pen on most nights. Anyway, interesting that they are not afraid of raccoons. Thanks.

 

[Quail Jailer]

They are not smart enough to fear any predators, not just coons, their wild instincts are gone.

 

[ebritthasquail3]

Well, a few minutes ago, he pecked one of the females on the head hard enough to leave a visible wound, so I am rapidly losing patience with him. Being aggressive with us was bad enough, but I definitely won't tolerate him hurting the girls.

 

[elmendorfquail]

I recently had a female XLD1 who beat up on the females and some of the males and after several weeks of trying to find another bird that she could get along I finally found a male in the brood that she gets along with bur I had to put them into their own cage. She lays me at least one egg a day and is very happy with her male friend. This can be a hassle if you only have a limited number of cages and it takes extra time to feed and water just two birds. You might want to consider getting rid of the bird. Jay

 

[Quail Jailer]

I never worry about aggression towards me, its kinda cute to me. but yes fighting each other is a problem, that I WILL resolve, if no other way than

clipping the neck of the offender.

 

[John-1948]

yes, the red variety are more aggressive by nature.

follow the rule - " Birds of the same feather - Flock together ".

I tried the white, brown, jumbo coturnix, bobwhites and putting them
in the same pen was a horrible mistake. (all hatched out at the same time)
first, the whites were bullied and pecked so bad I had to sell them.
second, the Reds were the aggressors, sold them.
third, the coturnix pecked the bobwhites - sold them.
of the remaining bobwhite breed, all were passive and got alone fine.

just my experience ..............

 

[elmendorfquail]

Thanks for the info. I only have the xld1's for now but I have about 120 Georgia Giant eggs in my turner right now and they should be ready to hatch in about 3 weeks. I understand that these get along very well with the Northern Bobwhites. Looks like its time to build some more brooder cages. Jay

 

[ebritthasquail3]

Thanks everyone. I think that I will get rid of "Braveheart" ( we have started calling him a different name, lol!) I just need to figure out how to do it. I really don't kill things. I'm not judging - I am not a vegetarian - I just don't do it. I have a stepson who is a live-off-the-land kinda guy, and I will ask him to do it. It has to be quick and humane and then he will eat it. He says that quail are delicious, I don't know, never eaten one. I just have them for the eggs and as a hobby.

 

[elmendorfquail]

Sounds like you may have a Tenn. Red in the bunch and its pissing your male bird off. Try putting the Red into another cage for a couple of days and see if anything changes. Jay