Trouble sexing my coturnix quail.

[Quail chick]

I have 5 silver and 7 Texas A&M that are 8 and 9 weeks old. I am in Houston Texas and there is plenty of day light. No one is crowing or laying eggs and I can't seem to vent sex them. Is there anything I can do to help in courage them to crow or lay? Also yesterday I found 3 of the silvers with bald bloody heads so moved them inside and cleaned up the wounds. I never see any fighting when I am out watching them.

 

[JiminyChristmas]

They'e quick with the picking. Starts with pulling feathers off, then when they're all gone, they tear skin. You have to really watch close to find the culprit. Blood under the chin and on the breast is a sign of the aggressor, but I've had their beaks pecked too so it could be a false indicator.
I've only had problem males but I'e read plenty on here and other places of aggressive hens. Lots of threads and info here on dealing with aggressive quail.

Vent sexing A+Ms for me has been tough until they are sexually mature, and by then they are crowing.
The silvers you can sex by color at that age.

 

[Quail chick]

How do you sex silver by color? I think most of these are silver tebetin tuxido. 2 are lighter color the 3 darker blue ones are the ones that have the bald bloody heads. I can try to get pics when I get back home.

 

[K85trb]

If you can’t see the difference in the vents, try feeling for the gland by the vent. I found the gland was easier to feel. Of course I also had all boys, so there was no difference to see. Lol

 

[Quail chick]

 

[Quail chick]

Not sure why one of the pics posted 3 times. Those are my silvers that are 8 weeks. One has some beautiful gold feathering. The 3 darker "blue" ones are the ones with bloodied heads.they are inside so they can be treated and watched.

 

[K85trb]

Beautiful birds.