- Jul 18, 2012
- 104
- 8
- 78
Hi All,
Some of you already know this info. but I will repost to jog your memory, or for others who have not read any of my previous posts:
I have four Bobwhites, 1 male and 3 female. They are now 6 months old. Up until around four months they were all four in a 20X40 guinea pig cage. My male "Little Chicky" was mating or attempting to mate with "Slow Poke". The largest female "Sasquatch" started pecking on "Slow Poke" and then the male started doing it to her too. Slow Poke had feathers missing and sores on the back of her head and neck, and she was majorly freaked out. I purchased another 20X40 cage and Slow Poke has been alone in there for almost two months now. I did try putting the male in with her about a week after I got the new cage, but Slow Poke seemed really really afraid and did nothing but hide the whole time so I put him back with the other two females.
Now, Slow Poke seems less freaked out, but she will not take mealworms from my hand like the other birds will, so she appears to still be anxious. I gave her a branch to hide in, and she likes that. Slow Poke started laying eggs at 5 months and she is the only one laying out of the three females. I thought the male would start mating with "Sasquatch" but it appears he has not. I saw him jump up on her back a few times before, but never went at it like he did on Slow Poke. He doesn't even try now. So now you know the situation here is my question:
The male "Little Chicky" has been crowing A LOT. The bob bob white call. The laying female by herself "Slow Poke" has been very very vocal also. Her calls sound like high pitched squawking. They will get loudly vocal at the same time. I am thinking she might be calling back to him. These were the ones who were mating before when they were in the same cage. The other females are never loud like that.
So, Should I try putting the male back in with Slow Poke? Should I wait until she stops laying? I am thinking I would like a few more Bobwhites so we can have enough eggs to supply my family of four. Right now she is only laying one every other day, and next spring we will get no more than 20 per week, I would like more than that, so I can stop buying chicken eggs. Any advice?
Some of you already know this info. but I will repost to jog your memory, or for others who have not read any of my previous posts:
I have four Bobwhites, 1 male and 3 female. They are now 6 months old. Up until around four months they were all four in a 20X40 guinea pig cage. My male "Little Chicky" was mating or attempting to mate with "Slow Poke". The largest female "Sasquatch" started pecking on "Slow Poke" and then the male started doing it to her too. Slow Poke had feathers missing and sores on the back of her head and neck, and she was majorly freaked out. I purchased another 20X40 cage and Slow Poke has been alone in there for almost two months now. I did try putting the male in with her about a week after I got the new cage, but Slow Poke seemed really really afraid and did nothing but hide the whole time so I put him back with the other two females.
Now, Slow Poke seems less freaked out, but she will not take mealworms from my hand like the other birds will, so she appears to still be anxious. I gave her a branch to hide in, and she likes that. Slow Poke started laying eggs at 5 months and she is the only one laying out of the three females. I thought the male would start mating with "Sasquatch" but it appears he has not. I saw him jump up on her back a few times before, but never went at it like he did on Slow Poke. He doesn't even try now. So now you know the situation here is my question:
The male "Little Chicky" has been crowing A LOT. The bob bob white call. The laying female by herself "Slow Poke" has been very very vocal also. Her calls sound like high pitched squawking. They will get loudly vocal at the same time. I am thinking she might be calling back to him. These were the ones who were mating before when they were in the same cage. The other females are never loud like that.
So, Should I try putting the male back in with Slow Poke? Should I wait until she stops laying? I am thinking I would like a few more Bobwhites so we can have enough eggs to supply my family of four. Right now she is only laying one every other day, and next spring we will get no more than 20 per week, I would like more than that, so I can stop buying chicken eggs. Any advice?
