Rooting out a roo

[HutchButch]

I have a flock of five who are about a month old. I recently found out that one is a rooster, because he started crowing. I went into getting quail for the eggs and didn't want any males, so I decided to take him out of the flock to exchange for a female.

When I isolated him, he didn't eat much if at all. Same for the rest of the flock. They'll usually finish off a feeder's worth of food in about 12 hours, but when I checked on the flock in the morning, most of the food was still there. If I end up exchanging the rooster for a hen, I don't want the flock to not eat. On the other hand, I want more (and unfertilized) eggs. Any advice on how to handle this?

 

[Nabiki]

They'll adjust. Quail don't like change and the adjustment period is anywhere from a couple days to up to two weeks. For something minor like this, I would expect them to be fine in a few days.

 

[Charlie Wooster]

Depending on Color of Coturnix the breast Feathers should tell if it’s a Cockerel or Pullet by the 4 week mark. If not vent sex in a few weeks.. pictures?

 

[HutchButch]

Depending on Color of Coturnix the breast Feathers should tell if it’s a Cockerel or Pullet by the 4 week mark. If not vent sex in a few weeks.. pictures?

This is one of two birds in question. This one and one other have a more uniform breast color. The other three are more spotted on the breast.

 

[MrJudeRaw]

This is one of two birds in question. This one and one other have a more uniform breast color. The other three are more spotted on the breast.

I would say roo because the chest is rusty and low on spots. but without knowing the exact type of bird that information may be useless

 

[Nabiki]

This is one of two birds in question. This one and one other have a more uniform breast color. The other three are more spotted on the breast.

This is a male.

 

[Nabiki]

I

Tried the bulge testing method. No bulge on either of the rusty breasted ones, much less any white foam that wasn't poop. Again, they're about 5 weeks old.

They're still too young. Wait until they're six or seven weeks old.

 

[Charlie Wooster]

Band/Mark the new hen so you can monitor easier when introducing her.. it’s often times hard to notice severe picking until it’s a bloody mess. Safe than sorry

 

[HutchButch]

Thanks for the tips!

I've read on these forums and elsewhere that coturnix hens can "crow". Should I wait to see if the subject in question is merely a female who crew?

 

[Nabiki]

I've never had a hen crow. If you aren't certain, wait until he's six weeks old and vent sex. He'll have a bulge and will produce foam when it's pressed gently.