I need help

[GermanQuail]

Hey there
I'm having trouble with my Cortunix Quails. They have always been very calm but this morning I found out that several quails were brutally injured on their head area. I'm scared. What may have caused this behavior?

Background information :
I'm a first time quail keeper. I hatched them from eggs. There are 11 quails all together with (sadly) 5/6 males (we are not sure about the gender of one of them). They are about 5 weeks old and have never been trouble.

I'm happy about any advice you guy have to offer!

 

[nchls school]

When quail are very startled/scared they fly straight up. Something scared your birds and the hurt themselves on the top of their cage. Replace the cage/pen top with something that is more flexible.

 

[GermanQuail]

I have noticed that they sometimes fly straight up. But that is something that has been an issue a few weeks ago and already been resolved.
Still thank you very much for your reply!
I believe maybe one of the males might be the issue. Because they seem to try and mate with the females.

 

[nchls school]

Yes, too many males would cause the hens, and even roos, to have head damage-best to have fewer males with hens; or even just one.

 

[GermanQuail]

Could I just separate all males and females? Maybe that would keep them calm. As I would hate to have to give some of my male quails away. I assume it's just problematic to have 6 males and 5 females.

 

[nchls school]

You can try it. When I put all males in one run the dominant males "mated" with the lesser and the lesser ended up as bad off as the hens.

 

[GermanQuail]

Oh, alright then.
thank you!