Is pecking a problem

[bama fan]

My Bob White quail are 8 weeks old and they are losing the feathers on their backs. Do I have a problem with pecking, canabolism or feathers. They are confined in a cage 3ftx16ftx18inches and their are 85 in the cage. I have clipped the beaks at 3 weeks old. Do I ned to trim them again?

 

[monarc23]

I'm no expert with BWs so take this with a grain of salt, but it sounds like that's way too small of an area for that many bobwhites

 

[laputa]

What my limited experience of coturnix, it would be only a couple of culprits to cause havoc for the entire flock. You would need to sit next to the cage and track down which one is the culprit then either trim its beak, or remove it like I did. I had one that non-stoppingly peck on other's features and results in majority have naked neck or back, and once it is removed, everybody's feather quickly grow back.

 

[monarc23]

Quote:
they're talking about bobwhites though

Bobwhites are a little different with behaviors. It could be them ALL bugging eachother, or like you say just a few. My oppinon is its more than likely the limited space causing stress. bobwhites do best in pairs not groups from what ive read.

 

[laputa]

Uh-Oh, 85 bob white... means 40 some pairs...

Yeah the density seems what I am using for my coturnix, 2 per square feet. I am doing fine with this density for coturnix, but I can understand why BW would not like it.