separating a roo

[quailmama 82012]

i have one too many roosters and they are being to aggressive with my ladies and so i think i need to separate one of them. i have a smallish cage that i will keep him in, it is a large Tupperware that i used for brooding. i am going to drill some holes in the side for ventilation and some more holes in the top, but i do have a few questions. should i take the dominant roo or the other one, and how do i tell which is which? i use grass clippings regularly, should i use this in the Tupperware? or should i use sand or hay or something else? what other stuff should i have in the "box of shame"? should he be able to see his friends, or would that drive him crazy?
thanks in advance.

 

[Nabiki]

What are your long term plans for this guy? I would choose to separate out the one you don't like or don't want to breed. For your lone boy, grass clippings should work okay. If he's within sight of the other birds it may keep him from getting too lonely, but it's not a good way for him to live the rest of his life unless you're planning on culling him soon.

 

[quailmama 82012]

well, i don't want to cull him, and once my quail start laying eggs i want to hatch some, and maybe give away the other boys from the hatch, then i would have enough female quail and i would put him back. how long could i keep him separated?

 

[Nabiki]

It really depends on the bird. Keep an eye on him and see how he does. If it's going to be a while you could rotate him and the other roo in with the girls.

Are you prepared for the probability that boys are going to be hard to find homes for? They will probably end up as food for someone/thing.

 

[cmobley]

When I had quail I'd swap out the males every 2 weeks. Sometimes id take all the males out and give the girls a break for a few weeks.

 

[Quailobsessed]

When I had quail I'd swap out the males every 2 weeks. Sometimes id take all the males out and give the girls a break for a few weeks.

This would be a good idea, but I think the was plan is to hatch babies from them for the spare male. If he fertilised those eggs, that would make his new girls his daughters.

@quailmama 82012
To avoid this, just make sure you when you are collecting eggs for the incubator, you keep the spare male away from the hens for a bit before that.

 

[quailmama 82012]

This all sounds good.

Are you prepared for the probability that boys are going to be hard to find homes for?

yes, i might just give them to someone who wants a small dinner. maybe even my brother or something. unfortunately, i dont think there will be anyone who wants a group of boy quail.

When I had quail I'd swap out the males every 2 weeks.

im thinking i might do something like that.

This would be a good idea, but I think the was plan is to hatch babies from them for the spare male. If he fertilised those eggs, that would make his new girls his daughters.
To avoid this, just make sure you when you are collecting eggs for the incubator, you keep the spare male away from the hens for a bit before that.

great thanks i will decide which genes to pass on when they actually start laying, haha.
thank you all so much this is all greatly appreciated