Roo got bloody- beat up by hens

[luvemal]

I processed the Roo to save him the misery. I then watched from my observation chair. There is one remaining Roo in the flock of seven quail. His back is now ruffled up! What is the issue?? I noticed one particular hen - the smallest bird of the flock is a bully.
She sword fights the other hens with her beak pecks at all of them and is antisocial.
should I process her also - to maintain peace in the cage. My cage is 36"wide 30" deep 18" tall.

 

[Sill]

Before you do anything make sure you only have one roo in the cage. The hens will often bully the submissive roos.

You can separate her out and put her in a cage by herself for a day or two. Make sure she can still see the other quail. If when you put her back she is still being a bully, cull her.

 

[luvemal]

Thanks for your response "Sill". I'll do.
We cooked the Roo and tried to eat him. We still taste the feathers and the house smells of it.
I decided to call it quits because I wanted to raise Quail primarily for MEAT. Back to the meat market for us...
Would be willing trade my remaining 6 hens 1 roo , these are 7 weeks old for 1 RI Red and ! White Leghorn egg layers,
But you are so far from me, San Jose Calif.
Thanks again for your input.

Douglas Lee

 

[Sill]

At least you found out before you got too far into it. Not everyone is cut out for raising their own meat. Quail does taste different than chicken. It does help to do the processing away from your food preparation area so you don't get the smells there. I hope you can find homes for your remaining quail. Maybe post them on Craigslist? That's where I sell my excess.
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/search/gra?query=quail

 

[luvemal]

Hi "Sill"
Looks like I'm into it big time! I called "Robbie" at James-Marie farms to cancel my order of 100 JM Pharoah eggs and they were shipped this morning! Will receive them in 2 to 3 days.

I told Robbie about the taste and smell, he told me I should soak the carcuses in ice cold water imediately after washing -2 tablespoonful of salt per gallon of water at 40degree F. for about an hour, dump it and do it again for 2 hours - that should remove all the blood and bad taste.
He then offered me a few recipes. Nice guy!!!!

Well, incubation time starting this Friday or Monday. I've got a 110 egg Little Giant, still air w/optional egg turner and quail egg rails.

This happened so quickly, my heart is pumping.

Stay close by--sounds like you are experienced and I may have a lot of questions if you don't mind. I will keep you informed as things develop.

Luvemal (Douglas)

 

[Sill]

Hi "Sill"
Looks like I'm into it big time! I called "Robbie" at James-Marie farms to cancel my order of 100 JM Pharoah eggs and they were shipped this morning! Will receive them in 2 to 3 days.

I told Robbie about the taste and smell, he told me I should soak the carcuses in ice cold water imediately after washing -2 tablespoonful of salt per gallon of water at 40degree F. for about an hour, dump it and do it again for 2 hours - that should remove all the blood and bad taste.
He then offered me a few recipes. Nice guy!!!!

Well, incubation time starting this Friday or Monday. I've got a 110 egg Little Giant, still air w/optional egg turner and quail egg rails.

This happened so quickly, my heart is pumping.

Stay close by--sounds like you are experienced and I may have a lot of questions if you don't mind. I will keep you informed as things develop.

Luvemal (Douglas)

l'm laughing as I read this. Looks like fate is telling you to raise more quail!

Make sure you got your incubator up and running to stablize temps before the eggs arrive. People have been getting very good hatch rates with Robbie's eggs so plan for a lot of chicks! Maybe multiple brooders or very large ones? Wow, very exciting!

 

[luvemal]

Hi Sill
I put together my Little Giant and egg turner + quail rails right after I spoke to Robbie and placed water into it right after Robbie told me the eggs were sent.
The temp. is 99.1 to 99.9 not sure how to stabalize or read and adjust the temp yet but I keep fooling around with the adjustment arrows. The humidity hovers around 41% to 45%. I'll call Miller Mftr. again for more input.
The brooder I think will use a large cardboard box cut down so that it is about 10" tall around the sides. And dump pine chips into it Still thinking on that one...And 1x1 sticks wrapped with aluminum foil to support the heat lamps.

I hope this does not turn into a nightmare...

I've been waiting on my porch for delivery since Thursday afternoon - not here yet.

One of my grand-daughters at dinner tonight told me she was reading about raising quail on the internet and whispered to me don't keep too many males together because the dominant one will kill the submissive ones. I told her would you believe the hens ganged up on the dominant male and beat him up! She goes HUH? back to the studying she says. She will come up with a plausible answer I'm sure.

Luvemal (Douglas)

 

[luvemal]

My eggs from JM farms did not arrive after 8 days , after many e-mails and phone messages Robbie
responds saying he sent them to Colorado -- I live in California!!!
He said he will package up another order and send them to me correctly .
WE WILL SEE. I spoke to him Nov. 3 rd Tuesday.

Luvemal

 

[luvemal]

Hooray!!!

Eggs arrived today 11AM all in good condition.
Sent to me Nov 4th arrived Nov 7th