mean button quail...

[Bryam]

I currently have 3 female and 3 male 8 week old button quail housed in a 20 gallon aquarium. Last week, I noticed one male had no feathers on his back, but as the days past by, they were starting to grow back. Today I noticed blood marks and the new feathers have all been pulled out again. Do I have too many males? Are they really mean to each other? Pretty savage actually.

 

[MrMe3257]

The ratio for quail is one male per 3 hens and even at that the female will lose some neck and.head feathers due to mating which is normal.

Stephen

 

[Bryam]

Okay, so I have too many males still!

Thanks!!

 

[MrMe3257]

If you have a total of three aquarium you can split them up so 1 male 1 hen per tank, they'll do fine when housed this way but for larger spaces a ratio of 1 cock per 3-5 hens.

Stephen

 

[Bryam]

Thanks! I decided to sell a pair with the dominant male and see if that alleviates the tension.

 

[MrMe3257]

If the trouble starts again maybe house the pairs in different cages or split the aquarium in half.
Could you post a pic of the set up?

Stephen.

 

[Bryam]

 

[Bryam]

Here are my quails! They are happy now that the mean dominant male is gone!

 

[Invision]

that cage is to small for 2 males. might want to get it down to 1.

 

[Bryam]

Yup, I think I am going to sell another pair and just keep one pair. I can't believe out of 18 chicks, I got 3 hens and 15 roasters! Is that normal? IT wasn't easy finding suitable homes for of those males!