please help :-(

[hollyrocker]

I've just joined this forum due to the fact I need some immediate advice. I have 6 week old quail, so they've just become mature so I'm aware that the boys will be after my girls. I've noticed them pecking my girls neck, and she was fine until I got up this morning and saw they have took all of the feathers off the back of her neck, as well as the top layer of skin.

I've removed her and she's in my kitchen in the 'hospital' cage. I would like to know what I need to do with regards to the males that are in their coop. Will they turn on eachother?

I don't want to reintroduce her once she's healed up just for the same to happen again. I'm not naive into how they reproduce, but my other male and female are fine.

Please, any help and advice is needed!

 

[sourland]

How many males and females are in the pen with her?

 

[hollyrocker]

In total I have 5, 2 of them (1 male 1 female) are separate anyway, leaving 2 males and the injured female together. They have been fine, until I woke up this morning and saw the mess.

 

[James the Bald]

Your ratio should be one male to 3 + hens. Those 2 males will get back at it and do the same to that last hen.

 

[hollyrocker]

These were the last 5 of a batch that were brought into a local school and I couldn't bear to leave them. The other female lives with 1 male in a separate place, has done since 2 weeks old's she was the smallest and being trampled on. So could I begin the process of reintroducing the injured female to those once she has healed?

Will the remaining boys get on?

 

[hollyrocker]

Update: the bad guy has now turned on the other boy. 2 more coops just been ordered. They are gonna be in mansions all by themselves! Nightmare

 

[snot]

Eat the mean ones, and get more hens

 

[hollyrocker]

I must say, I cannot kill these birds! They are my babies!

 

[Sycamore27]

I would say keeping your two extra males each in there own cage is probably going to be your only option especially if they can hear or see the females or, as it sounds, you have an overly aggressive male.
After she's healed keep the lone female next to the other male and female for a week or two where they can see each other and get used to one another. Then take them out of their cage, clean it, and move all of their things around before introducing all three birds(assuming that cage has plenty or room for three birds). If you see any fighting split them up and wait a while to try again.
When we introduced new birds to our covey our 'alpha' male had to be on overnight solitary confinement before he played nicely with everyone, and all is well now.
Good luck with your babies!
Jessie

 

[hollyrocker]

Thank you Jessie, I think I will do as you have suggested, I would definitely prefer it if my poorly girl didn't have to live alone. The trouble maker however is gonna have to be kept separate I think, as he has now attacked each of the other 4.
Thank you for your advice