Quail integration after separation?

[Sefirothe]

I have a group of about 43 quail currently in my basement. They were originally all brooded together and lived in the same pen for the first three weeks of their life.

The last two weeks they’ve been separated into 4 groups of about 10 or so each still all in my basement.

Once the weather cooperates (hopefully soon!!) I’m planning on transferring the majority to an outside aviary. I’m assuming that won’t be an issue with integration due to it being a new to every one large space.

I’d like to possibly mix and match, once I determine who the roos and hens are, 3 small groups of 1 roo to 3-4 hens still in the basement.

I’m just not sure how well that is going to go or how to go about it with the least chance for carnage.

 

[Nabiki]

Put them all in the aviary at night. They will be too confused in the morning to worry about all the birds that they woke up with (aka have always been there).

 

[Sefirothe]

Put everyone in the aviary for a bit to reset groups, then after a week or so, pull my breeding groups back out to separate them together?

 

[Nabiki]

That's how I would do it. I would also give the male 5 hens.

 

[Sefirothe]

That's how I would do it. I would also give the male 5 hens.

Sounds good to me.

Do quail hens have the ability to retain sperm like a chicken hen? Should I give it a couple weeks before I start incubating eggs once I have the breeding groups set up?

 

[Nabiki]

Yes, quail will retain the fertility for up to two weeks. Definitely wait a couple of weeks before incubating.

Edit: 5 hens is a good starting point. You can adjust the numbers up or down depending on how active the male is.

 

[Sefirothe]

Yes, quail will retain the fertility for up to two weeks. Definitely wait a couple of weeks before incubating.

Edit: 5 hens is a good starting point. You can adjust the numbers up or down depending on how active the male is.

Thank you!!

 

[Nighthawk78]

I don't remember where I first saw it, I think it was a reddit thread, but I recently reintroduced a young and very hormonal rooster to my main colony: a 50/50 dilute of white vinegar and water worked wonders. There was minimal fighting from the roos, but it also dissuaded the young roo from chasing down anything that moved. I just made sure to spritz all the birds well and they were fine with each other.