Too many roos and not enough hens, any suggestions?

[Pielcanela96]

My Japanese Coturnix quails have been moved to their outside pen since yesterday and I was finally able to inspect their colors really good. It looks like I have 8 roos and 9 hens.

I read on another post about the Avian Influenza in the USA now, so I don't even know if selling some roos is an option. Even though mine seem to be healthy.

I'm concern that as they get a little older, they will start fighting and maybe killing each other because there are not enough hens.

should I just separate them into pairs?
I guess I can still try to post them on craig's list, but I don't see many posts for just roos.
I don't want to use them for meat, so that is not an option for me.
Any other ideas/suggestions?

 

[Sill]

My Japanese Coturnix quails have been moved to their outside pen since yesterday and I was finally able to inspect their colors really good. It looks like I have 8 roos and 9 hens.

I read on another post about the Avian Influenza in the USA now, so I don't even know if selling some roos is an option. Even though mine seem to be healthy.

I'm concern that as they get a little older, they will start fighting and maybe killing each other because there are not enough hens.

should I just separate them into pairs?
I guess I can still try to post them on craig's list, but I don't see many posts for just roos.
I don't want to use them for meat, so that is not an option for me.
Any other ideas/suggestions?

Never separate coturnix into pairs! The roo will over breed the hen, at worst probably killing or maiming her, at best will pluck her bald. The roos need a minimum of three hens and can keep 7-9 fairly fertile. The hens will be much happier with more hens around and less likely to get testy with the roo because of the over breeding.

Yes they will start fighting, I just had to cull a male after he lost a fight, badly, and these were 8 week old "chicks". Guess I waited too long to send the extra males to freezer camp. I solved that problem today!

You won't see many post, if any, on Craig's list for extra roos, everyone has them. You might sell the odd extra roo for someone seeking a new genetics for their breeding program, but it's really rare. Extra roos are mostly just meat. And might fine tasting meat too.

 

[Pielcanela96]

Never separate coturnix into pairs! The roo will over breed the hen, at worst probably killing or maiming her, at best will pluck her bald. The roos need a minimum of three hens and can keep 7-9 fairly fertile. The hens will be much happier with more hens around and less likely to get testy with the roo because of the over breeding.

Yes they will start fighting, I just had to cull a male after he lost a fight, badly, and these were 8 week old "chicks". Guess I waited too long to send the extra males to freezer camp. I solved that problem today!

You won't see many post, if any, on Craig's list for extra roos, everyone has them. You might sell the odd extra roo for someone seeking a new genetics for their breeding program, but it's really rare. Extra roos are mostly just meat. And might fine tasting meat too.

Oh nooooo! I'm doomed.
Yeah, I don't see people looking for roos. Sounds like I will have to fatten them up.

l know they are very yummy. I have to be brave and bring myself up to "putting them in the freezer". I thought that part was going to be easier for me.

Thank you for the response.

 

[enola]

Can quail be kept in a male only pen if they are housed where yhey cannot see the females?

 

[Pielcanela96]

Can quail be kept in a male only pen if they are housed where yhey cannot see the females?

I would think they will fight each other and become aggressive with no female presence. I'm not sure though. Good question. This might be a solution for me too, unless I'm right about the blood bath.

 

[enola]

I keep ALL of my chicken roosters in a 'bachelor' pen. As long as they can't see the hens, there are no major scuffles. Of course there are lots of roosts and several places for them to eat and drink.

 

[dc3085]

Enola is spot on. As long as your bachelors aren't in direct line of sight with hens you can as many males as you want (edit:not as many as you want, but as many the cage can handle space wise) in a cage. If they are aware hens are close to them though, they will drive you crazy crowing and pulling each others feathers.

When it comes to coturnix quail bachelors as meat birds, they'll rarely actually damage each other beyond pulling some feathers so you can almost always get to butcher day without having too much hassle. Occasionally you'll have real aggression, in that case it's usually best to send the aggressor off to freezer camp for the summer.

You may want to watch my videos on slaughtering and processing if you don't have a lot of experience with it.

 

[crazymax02]

I had the same problem..my roos were fighting over the hens so I put them in a bachelor pen and they acted like friends and got along just fine.

 

[enola]

I put all the males in the bachelor pad. Breeding roosters, back up breeders, broilers. My roosters are only with my hens for breeding. I have happy hens.

 

[fisher101]

Dang just for a few weeks or months they are with them