Integrating new Coturnix...expert advice appreciated.

[wbruder17]

This is my 3rd attempt at raising and bredding Coturnix. The first 2 tiimes had disaster with predators before I finally figured out how to build the kind of enclosure I want without it beig infiltrated by rats, weasels, hawks, etc. I've never had any last long enough to breed. Now I got it right and my enclosure is pretty safe and secure. Haven't had any murders since its been finished.

I have 5 quail, about 8 weeks old....no eggs and no crow yet. Not sure what's going on. About 2 weeks ago, I tried to introduce 2 more, about 4 weeks old and they were attacked pretty badly by 1 (for sure) and possibly otthers, so I removed them and put them back with the younger flock. I have seen this one quail being aggressive with its flock mates, as well. At one point, I noticed a little cut and blood on 2 of their heads as well, but now they're ok. Not sure what this means for the first 5, but I still have no idea about the sexes of them.

I have another group of 12, about 4 weeks old, along with the other 2 I tried to introduce before, that are ready to get out of the brooder and into the pen/coop. Will there be safety in numbers? Should I remove the aggressive quail for a while until the newbies get settled? Should we just eat the aggressiive one, as we will be eating the unwanted males anyway. One of the 2 middle aged quail is already crowing like crazy and im going to keep him for breeding.

So, what do ya'll think about the situation?

 

[The Critter Place]

Are these the wild brown color?

By 8 weeks old you should be able to tell the sexes of them. And if you had males, they should be crowing by now.

It's really important to know the sexes and keep the numbers balanced, or there will be fighting.

The female will have a speckled chest, and the male a rust color if these are the wild brown colored Coturnix.

 

[wbruder17]

Yes, I know about keeping the numbers down, that's why I was tryiing to fiigure it out. I asked on here before, as I knew about the rust/ cinnamon coloring,but wanted to be certain, but the general response when I asked was that I needed to post pictures. I did not feel like taking pics and posting them.

My suspiciian is that 4 of the oriiginal 5 are males, but like I said, they aren't crowing, and the suspected female is not laying. My younger male that is crowing already is an A&M, but as it is crowing, I don't need to worry about that one. The youngest groupp is still too young to tell for sure if they are going to have the rust feathers or not. Also have a few younguns that are A&M, so don't know about them.

 

[Stellar]

Do you have any lighting on the original guys at all? Lighting will promote laying and crowing. Vent sexing would be my suggestion for the A and Ms. Females are plumper and they sit lower to the ground than males...

To integrate birds, make sure they are of the same size because believe me little guys will be beaten up. Put them either in a new environment (new cage) so they don't get any territorial antics. OR you can put a smaller cage of new guys into the big pen so they birds see each other eye to eye.