How can I integrate my lone male button into the group?

[shelleyd2008]

As many of you know, I have one blue face male button. He is currently living with a male A&M coturnix. I also have 15 various colored button 'babies', about 4-5 weeks old. I have bought a new cage for all of them to enjoy. It was shipped out today, via UPS or FedEx, one or the other. Anyway, when it gets here, I plan on putting all my buttons in it. How can I do this to make sure there is no fighting?

 

[monarc23]

I dont think you can really prevent it. Though some have said put the new bird into a cage inside the main cage so that it can see the other birds and get used to them, and keep that bird in there for a week and then release the bird into the collony and see howit goes...and if theres fights put it back in for another few days until you think things have calmed down enough to try it again.

I just the other day brought in two hens into the pairs cage (buttons im trading to another BYCer) there was some growling, chasing and pecking, but after about 3 hours the hype was over and they all cuddled together like nothing. Theyr'e all cuddle bugs now

 

[tiffanyh]

That can be tough.

I have not had good luck with that. And as I am sure you know, quail can be quite tough on one another. I would think that then all going into a new cage, then that might help. You can also take one of your calmer females and put her with the male for a few days in a cage and let them bond, then slowly integrate them in as a pair or a second small colony.

 

[Buff Hooligans]

I did a study on adding new chickens to a flock, but I don't know if quails operate by the same behavioural tendances as chickens. It might be worth a look. Click on my"BYC Page" under my avatar and look on the top right hand side for "adding-to-your-flock". Hope it helps.