Separating coturnix hens?

[Quailwhatdoyaknow]

I have two 4 month old coturnix hens and they have gotten along great. Yesterday I noticed one had been scalped by the other one. I treated the wound and they calmed down and didn’t do anything else. Today the one that had gotten scalped, had tried to scalp the other one! I have separated them for the time being via wire grate that they can see each other from. How long do I need to keep them separate? They have almost 7 sqft to run around in normally so more than enough for two birds. I did noticed one hen was trying to go broody and sit on her eggs. I wonder if this could be the sudden change in behavior.

 

[Nabiki]

The first question is, are you absolutely certain that both of them are hens? Males are more likely to do violence, but it is not unheard of for hens to get violent as well.

If one is trying to go broody, it could cause a change in behaviour, so that may be the case. You may want to keep them where they can see but not touch each other until the one stops being broody.

 

[Quailwhatdoyaknow]

The first question is, are you absolutely certain that both of them are hens? Males are more likely to do violence, but it is not unheard of for hens to get violent as well.

If one is trying to go broody, it could cause a change in behaviour, so that may be the case. You may want to keep them where they can see but not touch each other until the one stops being broody.

Yes I’m certain they are both hens. I get two eggs a day and each egg is different from the other. How long do hens stay broody?

 

[Nabiki]

Yes I’m certain they are both hens. I get two eggs a day and each egg is different from the other. How long do hens stay broody?

Coturnix quail rarely go broody in the first place and often quit quickly. If you take away the eggs, she will probably stop being broody in a couple days.

 

[Quailwhatdoyaknow]

Coturnix quail rarely go broody in the first place and often quit quickly. If you take away the eggs, she will probably stop being broody in a couple days.

I take them up almost as soon as they lay them. They typically lay in The evening after work so I check in the them grab them after they lay. They have been very vocal today since I separated them. They are not happy. But, I’d rather them heal and not hurt each other….

 

[WildNectarine]

I take them up almost as soon as they lay them. They typically lay in The evening after work so I check in the them grab them after they lay. They have been very vocal today since I separated them. They are not happy. But, I’d rather them heal and not hurt each other….

IMO, which is controversial, I don’t ever keep coturnix quail together, not even females, mostly because their wild ancestors only live in groups for certain times in the year; I just give them a plush quail friend, and then they will stop being vocal and will feel safe; my theory, based on my experience, is that they don’t want “friends”, they just don’t want to be the only bird if a predator comes.

 

[Quailwhatdoyaknow]

IMO, which is controversial, I don’t ever keep coturnix quail together, not even females, mostly because their wild ancestors only live in groups for certain times in the year; I just give them a plush quail friend, and then they will stop being vocal and will feel safe; my theory, based on my experience, is that they don’t want “friends”, they just don’t want to be the only bird if a predator comes.

That’s interesting. I may have to do that if they go back to fighting. I’m going to keep them separated a few days and see what happens.

 

[WildNectarine]

That’s interesting. I may have to do that if they go back to fighting. I’m going to keep them separated a few days and see what happens.

Sounds good! You’re doing a great job.