please help :-(

[Sycamore27]

The best thing that you could do is to start hatching or get a few hens from someone else. Good luck! I am low on hens right now, but I have been able to put one aging male in with a younger male. It isn't ideal, but I am expecting hatching eggs in the mail any day!

X 2
Personally I wouldn't go under 3 females to a male for the peace and happiness of all.
If you're not too attached maybe you can find someone near you who just keeps them for pets as well that has too many hens and rehome some of your boys in exchange for hens from them so you don't have to have so many pens and far more colonies than you expected to deal with! I know how attached one can get to them if you let yourself though, just thought I'd suggest the option.
Good luck!
Jessie

 

[hollyrocker]

Thankyou, and I do appreciate the suggestion. It makes total sense. But I think I'm very much attached now, the boys have their own pens now, just waiting on the final one to arrive. It's crazy what we do and how much we spend for our pets! They can all see each other. Still awaiting my girl to lay, I've increased the protein and put some calcium grit in so it's all a waiting game. The advice and experience from you all is priceless to someone who has never done this before!

 

[hollyrocker]

Update on my boys: I've met the guy who my birds originally came from, and he said I can swap 2 of my boys with 2 of his girls. I've seen where he keeps them, which is a school farm, and it is wonderful so as hard as it will be to let them go, I am content knowing that they will be fine, and hopefully the harmony in my backyard will be restored

 

[wishful suburbanite]

Wow. That's extremely nice of him.

And it seems like they get to live! =) Congrats on the lucky situation.

 

[hollyrocker]

He himself is short of girls, but he is willing to make this swap im really grateful.
Hopefully il have no more injuries of this sort.

Thank you all for your continued patience and advice

 

[Silver Silkie]

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.

I absolutely agree, but perhaps your quails are trying to establish a "pecking order"?

 

[hollyrocker]

They are completely vicious with eachother, And keeping them all isolated isn't fair on them. Hopefully my swap will create a more natural ratio as instead of 3 males, I'll have one male and 2 females

 

[Sycamore27]

Very nice of the breeder!
Sounds like a good resolution.
Good luck!
Jessie

 

[hollyrocker]

Thank you

Holly

 

[hollyrocker]

My 2 boys went to the farm this morning, settled in wonderful. My two new girls have settled in here really well, and my boy is very fond. I don't think it could have gone much better