Male quails fighting

[Traceyrabbit]

I have 5 quail, and since hatching I am now able to identify them as 3 females and 2 males. I keep them just because they're lovely (not for the meat) and their eggs. Recently, the males have started fighting (no injuries, just chasing a feather pulling). One of the males, the smaller one, seems to be a bit of a loner, and keeps away from the others except for trying to mate with the females (which is when the other male tries to intervene). Does anyone have advise - should I try to revoke one of the males, or will they eventually find their pecking order? Thank you!

 

[DK newbie]

If they are coturnix quail, I'd definitely get rid of one of the males. 3 girls is on the low end, even for 1 male, it's way too little for 2 and you'd have to be very lucky to make them coexist peacefully long term in anything smaller than a pretty big aviary.

 

[Nuchi]

Males don't do well with males in the presence of females. It can work but requires much more space and something along the lines of 1 male for ever 3 females at the very least. The females and males can be very happy kept in single sex groups out of view of each other.

At this point some males are still aggressive in a sexual sense with each other when kept separate from females and this can be a problem too. If this happens you can give the males 8 hours of light a day it is from my understanding this simulates deep winter driving out of the mating frenzy.

With the ratio you have right now the problem will only likely get worse sadly. So either more females or separate the boys and girls. Then if its still a problem 8 hours of light for the boys. The only other option is get "rid" of one of the males. Assuming they are Coturnix as well.

 

[Acre4Me]

A. Get rid of 1 male (even if putting in another cage).

B. If keeping second male, give him 4-5 females. The females will thank you as he won't be quite so persistent with each of the girls.

C. If possible, get 1-2 more females for other male to add to his flock. Ideally, you would add 2 females since a single/lone new female bird might get overly picked on by the other quail.

D. Keep each male and related flock separate in separate cages or in a large/diverse outdoor aviary (with places to hide from each other if they need a break).

When we had a bachelor cage (very large old dog cage, so plenty of room) of male chicks they fought so much! They could see and hear the females in other cages, but could not get to them or reach them through the bars, but still lots of fighting, and blood.

 

[Traceyrabbit]

Thanks so much for all your advise.

 

[Maiahr]

I have heard something about cutting/filing their peaks so the injuries are less?

 

[DK newbie]

You can do that - but modifying the animals to fit your production system is, imo, not the way to go. You should modify the production system to fit the animals.