Vent Sexing

[Robo]

They are messy. I have to change their bedding a lot. I'm thinking about switching to paper towels.

 

[Hooligan Farm]

So this morning I go downstairs, turn there light on and i get a crow. Then I get a second crow. So at this point I'm thinking to myself I need more hens. And guess what happens, thats right a third one crows. Thank you mother nature.....lol

 

[Rozzie]

I am still trying to figure out what my five week olds are. Actually, they are closer to six weeks.

One is definitely a boy. He crows...constantly. Someone turned the "on" switch into position and forgot to install an "off" switch. One is almost certainly a girl, since I observed him attempt his hillbilly thang.

The other three? Well, your guess is as good as mine so far. If I could get them to stay still long enough then I'd take pictures.

Edited to add: If he keeps being so noisy, he's going to have to move to the basement...

 

[Stellar]

Quote:
Oh yes, I have a nice cage of most likely English white BOYS! All I hear is crowing and grunting...lovely...

 

[Madcap621]

So, can excess Coturnix males be housed together until time for 'freezer camp" or will carnage negate the need?

 

[Rozzie]

Hmmm. It appears that I now have two crowing...

So, 2 boys, 1 girl, and 2 ???. Please, oh please let them be girls...

If not, well, maybe I'll have a few in the 20 in the 'bator...

 

[Stellar]

Quote:
I have males together...usually they don't kill each other. There is sometimes a quarrel..I need to pick out the breeders of these new English whites, find ANY girls and take the rest of the boys to the camp.

 

[Hooligan Farm]

Quote:
Oh yes, I have a nice cage of most likely English white BOYS! All I hear is crowing and grunting...lovely...

Between me promising my daughter Buttons and the lack of hens in my pen, I think I'm going to need to place a order

 

[Hooligan Farm]

So I finally separated the 2 hens with one roo. Hopefully this will work.

The Roo

The Hens

 

[Omniskies]

I'm kinda convinced that vent sexing is at least as accurate as sitting around for a few hours waiting for someone to yell. I just sexed out a couple dozen boys for freezer camp before I sat down here.

It's true that I've yet to see a female crow; but I've also yet to see a female pour a giant glob of foam out of her bottom when you tugged on her tail.

Just saying

Depending on how old your quail are by now, it should be ridiculously easy to flip them over, bend their tail back, and see if you open up a red, empty cavity, or if you see foam or bubbles come out. The males that you have isolated so far would be great to begin with.

It's easy. I swear. Grab the bird and hold it firmly in your hands. grab the tail with your thumb and push back, which will open up the vent. Here is the sexing key:

Poop: Female
Nothing: Female
Bizzare glob of shaving cream: Male

The more mature the male, the thicker the shaving cream. When they are young it may look more like bubbles.

If you don't see it on the male that is crowing then they may be too young (if only by a few days). If you do see it on the male then check all of your others and band the boys. You can always check the females again in a week to see if you had a late bloomer in there.

Once done, wash your hands, kick back, and enjoy the rest of your beer.