Predator attack or birds picking on each other?

[Lilyofsalen]

When I checked on my quail this morning, I came across the blood. It was splattered on the ground in and smeared across things in many places but was concentrated at the edge of the aviary. In that spot, there was a puddle across the support board on the ground and some smeared across the hardware cloth. Among some of the birds, there were feathers missing on the head, minor cuts on the head, and some minor beak injuries. However, there were two hens I decided to separate and bring inside. I can't quite see the injuries because they won't let me but from what I can see, it looks like they are both injured at a spot right between the folded wing and leg. It is clear that one bled quite a lot. They are both fine right now--they are resting and healing fine it seems.

Just to be sure though, quail can't pick on each other to this degree, right? I think it was a predator but want to be sure.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Quail can be very savage to each other depending on gender, how much space they have and other things. Pictures would help

 

[Lilyofsalen]

I don't know the gender of most of my birds. I know for sure I have three males. 13 birds altogether. They live in an 8 by 12 planted aviary.

 

[Nabiki]

Quail on quail violence is usually around the head from what I've seen. If you have 3 males out of 13 birds, that's a bit high, but your aviary is large enough that it shouldn't be too bad.

The injuries being between wing and leg sounds more like accident or predator to me, but it would really help if you can get some pictures.

 

[FloorCandy]

Could a cat be trying to grab them thru the hardware cloth?

 

[Lilyofsalen]

 

[Nabiki]

I would guess that was something reaching if for the birds. Do you have any gaps in the wire? Is it all 1/2" hardware cloth?

 

[Lilyofsalen]

The other hen I brought in has an injury in a similar position but it is under her wing. She will not sit still for pictures.

 

[Lilyofsalen]

I used 1/4 inch hardware cloth. I've had problems with feral cats terrorizing my quail at night but said cats have since been thoroughly traumatized with a pellet gun. I should hope they've learned their lesson . . .

Maybe a rat can stick its paws through the mesh and grab at the birds?

 

[Lilyofsalen]

It's probable that I have more than 3 males as well. They haven't started crowing yet and there is no foam so I really can't tell. I've also seen bullying but its usually resolved by the offending quail simply moving to another part of the pen.