After some trials, tribulations and other events: I have now 4 Coturnix quail.
Info: 1 DR male, 1 DR F - I mean DARK, a cool chocolate/deep red color, 1 A&M F - she gives eggs 1/2 again the size of most and last, my favorite - 1 golden F. They've been living together for about 6 weeks, no troubles. All are between 12 and 15 weeks. Bedding is pine w/some timothy hay thrown in to play with. about 6 sq. ft. I brought them in about 2 weeks ago. A few days ago, my roo started mating the DR hen. This is the only mating I saw myself. Last night I went to turn the light off and discovered my golden f with one side of her face - well, just about mascerated. The injuries were under her jaw and near her eye, though the eye itself doesn't look injured. I cleaned with a wet papertowel, just enough to get a look and applied some neosporin. Watched for a bit after lights out - no trouble. This AM, she has an additional bloody patch at the base of her skull on the same side. Then I saw the roo going after her. She's isolated now and he's not acting agitated or fussing with the other girls a bit.
the goal: I wish to have some pretty birds to look at and be amused by while they give me eggs. Those which don't tickle my fancy will be processed for cooking. It seemed that the colors I chose would have given me interesting offspring, that's why I kept those. My maximum "permanent " flock size would be ideal at 8-12 in a single colony flock based on space, egg requirements and just personal preference.
the question: Should I just start over? ...get a couple more adult females in with the current trio and cull the golden? Cull the roo? Add another F to the trio & 2 F/1 M to the golden and have 2 quads going for a bit?
Whether or not the current hatch goes well, I'll be getting a couple dozen eggs and an incubator to put them in during the next week or so. I feel like stuffing the freezer and just starting over with chicks.....!!
What would you do?
( I know, at some point I need a deep breath and some patience....
)
Thanks for reading and any advice y'all may give.
Info: 1 DR male, 1 DR F - I mean DARK, a cool chocolate/deep red color, 1 A&M F - she gives eggs 1/2 again the size of most and last, my favorite - 1 golden F. They've been living together for about 6 weeks, no troubles. All are between 12 and 15 weeks. Bedding is pine w/some timothy hay thrown in to play with. about 6 sq. ft. I brought them in about 2 weeks ago. A few days ago, my roo started mating the DR hen. This is the only mating I saw myself. Last night I went to turn the light off and discovered my golden f with one side of her face - well, just about mascerated. The injuries were under her jaw and near her eye, though the eye itself doesn't look injured. I cleaned with a wet papertowel, just enough to get a look and applied some neosporin. Watched for a bit after lights out - no trouble. This AM, she has an additional bloody patch at the base of her skull on the same side. Then I saw the roo going after her. She's isolated now and he's not acting agitated or fussing with the other girls a bit.
the goal: I wish to have some pretty birds to look at and be amused by while they give me eggs. Those which don't tickle my fancy will be processed for cooking. It seemed that the colors I chose would have given me interesting offspring, that's why I kept those. My maximum "permanent " flock size would be ideal at 8-12 in a single colony flock based on space, egg requirements and just personal preference.
the question: Should I just start over? ...get a couple more adult females in with the current trio and cull the golden? Cull the roo? Add another F to the trio & 2 F/1 M to the golden and have 2 quads going for a bit?
Whether or not the current hatch goes well, I'll be getting a couple dozen eggs and an incubator to put them in during the next week or so. I feel like stuffing the freezer and just starting over with chicks.....!!
What would you do?
( I know, at some point I need a deep breath and some patience....
Thanks for reading and any advice y'all may give.
