Pecking Problem!!!!!!!

[SunshineSilkies]

We have bobwhite quail. These little buggers are vicious!!! They will peck each other to death!!! What can I do to keep them from pecking and killing each other? They are about 3 weeks old, although the pecking starts much earlier. We have tried trimming their beaks, but it still does not keep them from pecking. Is it survival of the strongest for quail or what?????

I thought chickens like to pile together when they were little, but these quail of mine fight to be the top chick on the pile. Is there anything I can do to help with this also? We have a light for heat and plenty of water and feed them gamebird starter/grower.

Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated!!

Vickie

 

[Denninmi]

Would the anti-picking spray sold in pet stores work? I used it on my chickens, who started to suddenly peck when they began to lay eggs, and it stopped it right away.

 

[sheila3935]

What kind of light are you using? White light can cause them to peck more. red or blue light less.

 

[aprophet]

I would try less birds in the same space the heat I do not use a thermometer I adjust the heat until they do not huddle or pile the first week this is about 90-100*

 

[JJMR794]

Quote:
NICE IDEA, BUT NO.... WONT WORK ON THESE GUYS.

 

[JJMR794]

Quote:
REALLY DOESNT MAKE MUCH DIFFERENCE WITH BOBS..... OTHER GAMEBIRDS- GOD YES! RED LIGHT. BUT BOBS KINDA FOLLOW THEIR OWN PATH.

 

[JJMR794]

Quote:
THIS IS THE BEST ADVICE I HAVE SEEN ALL WEEK!


FOR BROODING BOBS THROW THE THERMOMETER AND CALENDAR OUT! YOU HAVE THE ABSOLUTE BEST AND MOST ACCURATE TOOL IN YOUR BROODER--- CURRENTLY PICKING ON THEIR ROOMMATES

OBSERVE THE BIRDS THEMSELVES. HOW ARE THEY ACTING? WHAT ARE THEY DOING? ARE THEY TEARING AROUND THE BROODER-- EATING, SLEEPING, BEING QUAIL? IF SO THEN YOUR TEMP IS JUST RIGHT. ARE THEY ALL PILED UP IN A CORNER UNDER THE LIGHT SOURCE? IF SO WAY TOO COLD. ARE THEY SCATTERED AROUND PANTING AND TAKING CHEAP SHOTS AT EACH OTHER? IF SO TOO HOT. ARE THEY PILED UNDER THE LIGHT? OR AT THE FAR END AWAY FROM THE LIGHT? 1 SHOWS TOO COLD, THE OTHER TOO HOT. AGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR WILL ESCALATE QUICKLY IF THEY ARE TOO HOT--- AND DISAPATE JUST AS FAST IF THEY ARE TOO COLD.

BOB WHITES ARE THE JUNKYARD DOGS OF THE QUAIL WORLD--- MEAN DOESNT EVEN COME CLOSE! THEY ARE A TRUE GAMEBIRD AND THE BEST AND EASIEST WAY TO LIMIT PECKING ISSUES IS SPACE--- AND LOTS OF IT. THERE ARE WAYS TO CHEAT A LITTLE BIT--- ADD HIDES, DUST BATHS, SLIGHTLY DECREASE THE TEMP( SEEMS ITS MORE DIFFICULT TO GO THROW A BEATING ON MORTY OVER THERE BY THE WATER FONT IF YOU'RE A LIL COLD...) A COUPLE OF HARD AND FAST RULES---- NEVER EVER EVER LET THEM RUN OUT OF FOOD AND WATER UNTIL FULL SIZED. ADJUST THE TEMP ACCORDING TO THE BIRDS BEHAVIOR, NOT A POSTING ON HERE, OR A CALANDER, OF THERMOMETER READING... FOR PERSISTANT PECKING RED LIGHT IN A DARK ENVIRONMENT. ANS AS MUCH SPACE AS POSSIBLE. IF YOU ARE USING A BROODER WITH LIMITED SPACE DECREASE THE NUMBER OF BIRDS AND INCREASE THE NUMBER OF BROODERS/ CAGES.


3 WK OLD BOBS ARE ABOUT THE SAME MENTAL DEVELOPMENT AS 10-12 YR OLD CHILD. THEY ARE SEEKING ACCEPTANCE, FINDING OR ESTABOLISHING THEIR PLACE IN THE COVEY'S RANK AND FILE. THEY HAVE MASTERED THE PERSONAL BIOLOGICAL NEEDS PHASE AND ARE NOW TRYING TO FIND THEIR OWN PERSONALITIES.

MANY THINGS CAN HELP WITH AGRESSION--- DEBEAKING WORKS WELL FOR THE 1ST COUPLE OF WEEKS OF LIFE, BUT FALLS SHORT AFTER THAT. SPACE AS STATED IS KEY. ADD DISTRACTIONS--- DUST BATHS, ETC.. ADD SAFETY ZONES--- HIDES TO GO WHEN BEING PICKED ON... PINIOINING IS A MAJOR BEHAVIOR MODIFIER. IF YOU ARE PLANNING ON KEEPING THESE GUYS AS BREEDER STOCK THIS IS A GODSEND! IT WILL MAKE THEM LESS AGRESSIVE TO EACH OTHER, 1000X'S LESS FLIGHTY WITH YOU, AND HELP GREATLY TO RETAIN YOUR STOCK---- AND YOU DO WANT TO RETAIN YOUR STOCK AS HERE IN FLORIDA IF THE GAME WARDEN FINDS OUT EVEN 1 OF YOUR BIRDS GO LOOSE---- WOW THERE'S GONNA BE A BOAT LOAD OF BAD MOJO COMING! THERE ARE ALSO BITS AVAILABLE FROM CUTLER'S SUPPLY OR OTHER SUPPLIER SOURCES WHICH ARE PERMANENT AND VERY EFFECTIVE, BUT I USUALLY RESERVE THAT FOR ABSOLUTE LAST RESORT AS I CANT IMAGINE WALKING AROUND WITH A STEEL BAR IN MY MOUTH 24/7 EVERYDAY OF MY LIFE AND PERFER NOT TO HAVE TO DO IT TO MY STOCK. DENY THEM LIGHT IN MANY CASES (PROVIDED THEY DO NOT NEED THE HEAT GENERATED FROM THE BROODER LIGHT YOU CAN TURN OFF ALL LIGHTS AND PLACE THEM SOMEWHERE DARK--- SAY A BEDROOM WITH THE BLINDS CLOSED--- IF THEY DO NEED THE HEAT FROM LIGHTS CHANGE YOUR BROODER LIGHT TO RED AND DO THIS AS WELL. NOT ALL OF THESE OPTIONS MAY WORK FOR YOU, BUT USUALLY 1 OR A COMBINATION OF THEN DOES. GOOD LUCK! OH AND WHEN DEALING WITH BOBS.... TAKE ALL YOUR BIRD KNOWLEDGE AND THROW IT AWAY---- THEY TRUELY ARE A SPECIALTY OF THEIR OWN AND MOST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE FROM OTHER SPECES WILL BE JUST ENOUGH TO CAUSE TROUBLE WITH THESE GUYS...

 

[SunshineSilkies]

Thanks so much!! Exactly what I needed to know!!