Quail Keeper from Texas

[AddieAndHerQuail]

Houston area.
I'm always here...if you need anything you let me know.

Thank you, Kiki! I am getting my first male tomorrow! He will be arriving with two new hens (I hope to mix them with 3 hens I already have). I'm sure I will be picking your brain for advice on incubating and brooding before I am ready to take that step! I really appreciate you reaching out!

 

[Tonyroo]

Welcome to BYC.

 

[chrissynemetz]

Welcome to BYC! It's so nice to meet you! Make yourself at home!

 

[rjohns39]

Hi and welcome to BYC We're so happy you've decided to join us

 

[Fuchsia]

Hello and Welcome!!

 

[Kiki]

Thank you, Kiki! I am getting my first male tomorrow! He will be arriving with two new hens (I hope to mix them with 3 hens I already have). I'm sure I will be picking your brain for advice on incubating and brooding before I am ready to take that step! I really appreciate you reaching out!

How'd this go?

 

[AddieAndHerQuail]

How'd this go?

Thanks for asking! It's going well.... I think. Some of the hens I had planned on breeding did NOT like the rooster at all! I put them all into a previously unused pen so there would be no territory issues, but there was immediate aggression from 2 of my more assertive females toward the male. I've been swapping out hens and I THINK I found a good combo, for now at least!
Now, funny thing is.... while I was swapping females, I noticed one of my Italian "hens" was mounting its penmates!! This was a bird that came to me in a group of 5 from a coworker who didn't want them anymore. She thought they were all hens! And with my inexperience, I mistook him for a female as well! So now I have to figure out where he can live peacefully. Can you have 2 males in one pen with a high enough M:F ratio?
My incubator will be arriving tomorrow. I'm excited to test it out! I have 2 hydrometer/thermometer units coming in as well, so I plan to run the unit for a few days to make sure it works properly. How long should I wait for the rooster to do his thang so I can set aside fertilized eggs? Any other tips/advice on breeding/incubating/brooding that a new quail keeper could use?