Quail not crowing - female or late bloomers?

[maycwindu]

Hi all,

I’ve currently got a flock of 7 coturnix at 10 weeks old and I’m wondering if the lack of crowing may indicate that 4 birds of unknown sex are female.

About four weeks ago, two cockerels began crowing, then fighting like crazy so I removed them from the flock. After they were gone my current cockerel, a tuxedo, began crowing. I’ve still got him because he is peaceful. At 9 weeks of age, two other quail started laying.

This leaves four quail who aren’t crowing nor are they laying. Could this suggest they’re female? Or maybe some or all are male and they’re laying low for now?

I know it’s winter but I’m impatient, and it’s fun to postulate.

 

[The-White-Elephant]

Hi all,

I’ve currently got a flock of 7 coturnix at 10 weeks old and I’m wondering if the lack of crowing may indicate that 4 birds of unknown sex are female.

About four weeks ago, two cockerels began crowing, then fighting like crazy so I removed them from the flock. After they were gone my current cockerel, a tuxedo, began crowing. I’ve still got him because he is peaceful. At 9 weeks of age, two other quail started laying.

This leaves four quail who aren’t crowing nor are they laying. Could this suggest they’re female? Or maybe some or all are male and they’re laying low for now?

I know it’s winter but I’m impatient, and it’s fun to postulate.

In winter, quail egg production drops to nearly zero, so they might be female, just not laying because of winter.

 

[vall]

At 10 weeks you can try vent sexing.

 

[maycwindu]

In winter, quail egg production drops to nearly zero, so they might be female, just not laying because of winter.

Tell that to Rock, she's been laying double yolkers almost every day. She's crazy! Incidentally, she's the only one that my cockerel breeds with. I've taken a liking to the quail so hopefully they are female and can stay.

 

[Kiki]

Hi all,

I’ve currently got a flock of 7 coturnix at 10 weeks old and I’m wondering if the lack of crowing may indicate that 4 birds of unknown sex are female.

About four weeks ago, two cockerels began crowing, then fighting like crazy so I removed them from the flock. After they were gone my current cockerel, a tuxedo, began crowing. I’ve still got him because he is peaceful. At 9 weeks of age, two other quail started laying.

This leaves four quail who aren’t crowing nor are they laying. Could this suggest they’re female? Or maybe some or all are male and they’re laying low for now?

I know it’s winter but I’m impatient, and it’s fun to postulate.

Pictures?

 

[The-White-Elephant]

Tell that to Rock, she's been laying double yolkers almost every day. She's crazy! Incidentally, she's the only one that my cockerel breeds with. I've taken a liking to the quail so hopefully they are female and can stay.

You can get double yolks in quail eggs?! Wow!

 

[maycwindu]

Pictures?

I attached a couple. Spazzy is by the feeder. Its mask is a touch brown and the speckles don’t go down very far.

The other photo shows an Italian of unknown sex next to two unknown tuxedos. This Italian is larger than Spazzy, has a darker mask, and the speckles are better, just not as speckled as a for-sure female.

I’m being cautious about the speckles because their moms weren’t very speckled, I was surprised to learn they were female when I went to go pick up the chicks.

At 10 weeks you can try vent sexing.

I don’t think vent sexing works if birds aren’t in breeding or laying condition. My known cockerel hardly crows anymore. That said, I did take a look at their vents and didn’t see engorged foam glands.

May have to wait till spring. I don’t mind keeping extra cockerels or non laying females this winter. I’m already attached to them all so I’m fine if they get to just hang and enjoy life for a few months. Though, only getting 2 females out of 10 chicks would be dumb!!

 

[Nabiki]

The one by the feeder is a hen. I'm not 100% sure on the other one. The face mask implies hen, but the head is pretty brown, which implies male. Can you get a better picture of that one's head?

 

[maycwindu]

The one by the feeder is a hen. I'm not 100% sure on the other one. The face mask implies hen, but the head is pretty brown, which implies male. Can you get a better picture of that one's head?

Sorry for late reply. I attached a pic of Spazzy (on the dirt) and Lazy (on the sack). Spazzy seems male to me and Lazy could maybe go either way.

Is there some grand “what sex is this” quail thread? If not someone ought to make one...

 

[Doriss]

Hello, vent sexing should only be done by a very experienced quail-keeper, or a veterinarian, due to risk of serious damage to the bird.

At 10 weeks you can try vent sexing.