Some Questions about fighting/molting/laying

[MicroFarmMom]

1. I haven't seen any fighting amongst my boys yet - but I have noticed that some of them have bald spots on their heads - is this a molting thing or a fighting thing?

2. Can I see some pictures of molting in various stages? I have a lot of feathers in there - but no one is looking particularly naked- they just don't look as full as normal, but not ugly and mangy. Haha!

3. We have lights on them all the time - have had lights on them all the time for 1.5wks. And even though they are just a tad over 8wks - only 2 of the 7 are laying. I know, I should be patient - but it's not my strongest virtue and it's driving me nuts. When do you decide that you flock isn't going to lay and just cull to save money? Am I being too hasty?

 

[thekid]

what kind of quail do you have

 

[Robo]

She has coturnix because two are laying. Give them time, don't cull yet. Sometimes they take a while. Your rooster has a bald neck because he is being mated by the dominant rooster...

 

[MicroFarmMom]

Yep Cortunix- and yep Im that crazy gal that is super duper impatient! LOL!

As for the males mating each other - is this normal/ok? Or should we go ahead and cull the less dominant males at this point?

 

[Robo]

It is natural, well if you call coturnix love natural. As long as there is a good hen to cock ratio you are fin.

 

[TTeddy]

Why do you have light on them all the time?
Wouldn't this confuse them as to when is night and day? And thus affect their egg laying? I know this applies to birds in general.