Male required?

[Rhiannon_In_Nature]

I am gathering information before getting into coturnix quail and have a question. I know if you keep both sexes you have to have several females for one male. But will a group of females with no male be happy? I do not intend to breed and worry about the "attentions" from a male wearing the females down or shortening their lifespan.

 

[sourland]

Hens without a male will be fine.

 

[Fishkeeper]

I think you can run into some flock dynamic issues.
If you have plenty of hens and 1 male, he shouldn't be an issue for them. And whether or not a hen lays fertile eggs has no effect on her lifespan.

 

[CoturnixComplex]

They will be totally fine, BUT their egg production can slow without a male around. Some of mine stop laying altogether without a mate.

 

[Kaya1]

I only have females. They seem to take turns dominating each other, but they've been a lot happier since I got rid of the male, and they still lay eggs every day when in season.

 

[CoturnixComplex]

I only have females. They seem to take turns dominating each other, but they've been a lot happier since I got rid of the male, and they still lay eggs every day when in season.

I know plenty of people who've had each of our experiences. I wonder if there is a genetic component varying strain to strain Either way it's worth a shot, OP. Just know they *may* slow laying.