It's been interesting, for sure.

[kcult]

But I'm seriously considering giving up on the quail.

I retired from work recently, so I have plenty of time to keep them up, etc., but the one thing that pushes me towards getting out of it, more than any other thing, is the brutality of these little demons.

I understand there is a such thing as a pecking order, but why on earth do birds that are hatched and raised up together, all of a sudden decide someone needs to die? It's very stressful.

I have quail on the ground, in a 8x10 coop, but also quail in 2x4 cages. Everyone has food, water, and dirt, and there seems to be no difference in behavior between the ground flock and the cage flock, with the exception of those on the ground have better chances of getting out of harm's way. But, the most damage I've seen so far, was within the ground flock. The poor male was missing an eye and had a bald, bloody spot on the back of head, about the size of a postage stamp.

I would love to continue, because we are eating the eggs for breakfast, as well as pickled. And people seem to really like my pickled quail eggs.

I just can't accept the aggression and brutality of these creatures. I've had chickens longer, and with the exception of one rooster that absolutely flipped, one day, these animals seem to know how to live with each other.

 

[Nabiki]

It is possible that quail aren't for you. If you want to take the time, though, you can breed for calmer birds.

Just out of curiosity, where did you get your birds? The birds that I got from Southwest Gamebirds are the calmest ones that I've had so far. Aggressive birds are the first on the dinner table.

 

[Kiki]

But I'm seriously considering giving up on the quail.

I retired from work recently, so I have plenty of time to keep them up, etc., but the one thing that pushes me towards getting out of it, more than any other thing, is the brutality of these little demons.

I understand there is a such thing as a pecking order, but why on earth do birds that are hatched and raised up together, all of a sudden decide someone needs to die? It's very stressful.

I have quail on the ground, in a 8x10 coop, but also quail in 2x4 cages. Everyone has food, water, and dirt, and there seems to be no difference in behavior between the ground flock and the cage flock, with the exception of those on the ground have better chances of getting out of harm's way. But, the most damage I've seen so far, was within the ground flock. The poor male was missing an eye and had a bald, bloody spot on the back of head, about the size of a postage stamp.

I would love to continue, because we are eating the eggs for breakfast, as well as pickled. And people seem to really like my pickled quail eggs.

I just can't accept the aggression and brutality of these creatures. I've had chickens longer, and with the exception of one rooster that absolutely flipped, one day, these animals seem to know how to live with each other.

Can you post pictures of your setups?
How many birds total do you have in the ground coop and do you have hiding spots?

 

[saysfaa]

 

[QuailQueen3]

But I'm seriously considering giving up on the quail.

I retired from work recently, so I have plenty of time to keep them up, etc., but the one thing that pushes me towards getting out of it, more than any other thing, is the brutality of these little demons.

I understand there is a such thing as a pecking order, but why on earth do birds that are hatched and raised up together, all of a sudden decide someone needs to die? It's very stressful.

I have quail on the ground, in a 8x10 coop, but also quail in 2x4 cages. Everyone has food, water, and dirt, and there seems to be no difference in behavior between the ground flock and the cage flock, with the exception of those on the ground have better chances of getting out of harm's way. But, the most damage I've seen so far, was within the ground flock. The poor male was missing an eye and had a bald, bloody spot on the back of head, about the size of a postage stamp.

I would love to continue, because we are eating the eggs for breakfast, as well as pickled. And people seem to really like my pickled quail eggs.

I just can't accept the aggression and brutality of these creatures. I've had chickens longer, and with the exception of one rooster that absolutely flipped, one day, these animals seem to know how to live with each other.

Quail can become aggressive and territorial if they have too much space (or too little space). Also, depending upon what kind of quail you have, the ratio of male to females varies significantly. Zach with MyShire Farms on their YouTube channel share a lot of great information if you’re raising Japanese quail. Good luck!

 

[kcult]

It is possible that quail aren't for you. If you want to take the time, though, you can breed for calmer birds.

Just out of curiosity, where did you get your birds? The birds that I got from Southwest Gamebirds are the calmest ones that I've had so far. Aggressive birds are the first on the dinner table.

I got the original flock from a coworker, but the origin of the birds is unknown. I've incubated several dozen eggs from them, and from the birds that matured from those hatches.

Forgive me, if I get these designations wrong, but with the exception of one incident involving some solid white birds (A&M?), the most aggressive and brutal birds, have been the tuxedos. I literally just moved one today, because it was being up any other bird that was trying to get into the fresh sand bath.

 

[AGDependentFarm]

No doubt about it the lil buggars can be down right mean. Roosters are relentless when they are learning to rooster. But hens alone are meant to each other. Pecking backs and toes.

I do feel over time you might could breed it out of your flock by culling the worst so they dont procreate. But it would take a while.

I have Tuxedos from Myshire. They were our first. The roosters will scalp other birds if you dont catch them. Pecking orders are real.
In my Tuxedo Breed cage I have 3 Roosters to 15 Hens and I havent seen any real fighting. But before I culled 24 extra Roosters it was constant. The level with hens only the peck the others for no reason but your in my space.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

My biggest trouble maker was a German hen until a few months ago. I think now she's just too old to continue, but before then she lived alone almost the entire time because she would scalp anyone else I put with her.

Perhaps try an all hen flock? And have the male you wish to breed where he can still see them? Maybe that would help a bit with the stress?

 

[Butchers Wife]

But I'm seriously considering giving up on the quail.

I retired from work recently, so I have plenty of time to keep them up, etc., but the one thing that pushes me towards getting out of it, more than any other thing, is the brutality of these little demons.

I understand there is a such thing as a pecking order, but why on earth do birds that are hatched and raised up together, all of a sudden decide someone needs to die? It's very stressful.

I have quail on the ground, in a 8x10 coop, but also quail in 2x4 cages. Everyone has food, water, and dirt, and there seems to be no difference in behavior between the ground flock and the cage flock, with the exception of those on the ground have better chances of getting out of harm's way. But, the most damage I've seen so far, was within the ground flock. The poor male was missing an eye and had a bald, bloody spot on the back of head, about the size of a postage stamp.

I would love to continue, because we are eating the eggs for breakfast, as well as pickled. And people seem to really like my pickled quail eggs.

I just can't accept the aggression and brutality of these creatures. I've had chickens longer, and with the exception of one rooster that absolutely flipped, one day, these animals seem to know how to live with each other.

Try keeping only hens in the ground coop for more eggs per square foot. Keep only 1 male with his hens in each cage and hatch their fertile eggs for replacements. And don't let the males see each other, especially if there's only wire between them. Their constant bickering will keep all the birds on edge. I learned this raising pheasants. Those males will fight to the death at certain times of the year no matter how many square feet and hens are available. In nature, males are routinely chased off to fight their way into new flocks or herds and are replaced by males fighting to gain access to other mother flocks and herds. It keeps the genetics strong. So I separate all my smallstock to keep the peace. Females for eggs on this side of the barn, males and females in breeding pens behind the barn, and there's nothing but cooing, preening, and lounging all day long in all groups.