Is he aggressive?!?!?

[ellie62706]

Hi!! I came downstairs to a disturbing sight... My male Coturnix was on top of my female, picking her back feathers. He's always been really sweet to her, they are housed as a pair. They are about 6 weeks old. He is mature, but the female is not. I let them be for the day and they are fine. Was what I saw aggression or just plain breeding? I'm thinking of making a quail apron if I see that my female is missing feathers.

 

[Chickwhispere111]

Don’t worry my roosters do it all the time it is simply breeding it looks aggressive!

 

[ellie62706]

Phew!!! Thank you so much! Is it only in the spring??

 

[Chickwhispere111]

Not really they tend to be like this all year round it is more common in spring some cockerels do it more often it is often just used to show who’s boss when it comes to breeding

 

[ellie62706]

okay! Thank you for the info.

 

[mdees88]

It's breeding and happens all year. Coturnix quail really shouldn't be kept in pairs. You typically want 4-5 females to 1 male. The males breed a lot and will kind of beat up your female if you only have 1.

 

[ellie62706]

This was the only time I saw them breeding. They were picked on by other quail and were really bonded. If he does start to pick at her, I'll separate them.

 

[Fishkeeper]

You need more females. Coturnix are social, they shouldn't be kept in pairs. They're 100% breeding more than you're seeing unless you sit by the cage all day and watch.

 

[ellie62706]

okay, I'll get some more.