?? 's About Adding Mixed Ages to Aviary

[The Critter Place]

I am getting ready to put our young Quail out in the Aviary this weekend and had a few ??'s.

I know when adding to a cage of any sort that has birds, they need a period of getting used to each other before just putting them in.

But is that the case with a Aviary with no birds in it right now.

I have 2 groups. One group is a few months old, the chicks I got at the end of summer.
The other group are chicks we hatched a few weeks ago.

My Aviary is built with a smaller wire box on the end that can be partitioned off in need be for a holding area for new birds.
Will they need separated for awhile due to age diff. or can they all go in together at once because it has no birds right now?

 

[thekid]

they will peck at each other at first but that is just determining the pecking order. they should be fine

 

[TwoCrows]

Critter, I think you might be ok in mixing them all together since this will be new territory for all of them. Usually the aggression starts when the existing flock is defending their territory. But since this is going to be new territory, they may just all get along.

There will probably be some pecking order stuff after everybody gets used to the new surroundings, but I don't think the all out brawls should occur. Just keep an eye on everybody and if one or a few of them do get aggressive, put the meanies in a cage within the aviary for a week or so and that should pipe them down. Good luck in your new aviary!!

 

[Stellar]

Quote:
X2

 

[The Critter Place]

Thanks!
That's kind of what I thought, but wanted to be sure.

 

[joe125]

Not sure what species we are talking about here, but if it's coturnix. Please make sure they are all of the same sexual maturity at the time you put them all together. If the pen space is huge, then you will get by with almost anything, but placing "almost ready roos, and almost ready hens", with the "getter done crowd". Accident waiting to happen!