One "evil" quail (extremely aggressive)

[Hopps]

Hello everyone,
I have 5 cute coturnix quails. I've had them for about 3 weeks now. They were adults when I got them and got along fine. However over the three weeks one quail has gone absolute psycho.

Their cage is 2.5x5 ft which is plenty of space I think.

This one crazy quail first started guarding the food (now we have 2 food bowls and water containers). She attacks the other quails very aggressively. She'll chase them down and grab the feathers on their head. Then she'll shake her head and pull out all the feathers. None of the quails lay eggs anymore.

She consistently terrorizes this one quail to a point where she got her toe caught in the cage. There was a lot of blood so I separated her. After a few days of separation the injured quail started consistently laying eggs again.

Now the psycho quail started attacking humans! When we reach in to do some maintenance, she will jump up and bite our arms and hands. I'm not afraid of the quail but I feel really bad for the other ones. What do I do at this point? She keeps getting angrier and angrier and we think we should just give her away. (If anyone is in San Jose, CA please help and take her away)

 

[sourland]

I would at the least separate her from the flock. She is clearly stressing the other birds.

 

[Hopps]

I would at the least separate her from the flock. She is clearly stressing the other birds.

We just separated her at the moment. I don't know why she became so aggressive all of a sudden. The previous owner said they were all fine and were laying consistently in the beginning. I guess rehoming her is the only option at the moment

 

[KikiLeigh02]

Are you 100% sure they are all female? Do you know how old they are?

 

[Hopps]

Are you 100% sure they are all female? Do you know how old they are?

They're all female, 9 months old and all are laying eggs according to the previous owner.

 

[Fishkeeper]

You might want to try vent sexing, could be the owner is wrong and that's a male.
Separate her out from the others for a few days to a week and see if that helps any.
If she doesn't calm down, see if she's doing okay on her own.

 

[MissChick@dee]

Does Ms. Angry Quail lay eggs (that you’ve actually seen) ? Perhaps it might be Mr. Teenage Hormones instead!!

 

[Hopps]

She is female, the owner confirmed they all have been laying eggs. I've isolated her but her behavior is exactly the same. I'm just going to rehome all my quails at the moment. Thanks everyone

 

[Fishkeeper]

You really don't need to rehome all of them, just the problem one.

 

[paneubert]

Are you sure they are all coturnix?