- Nov 28, 2008
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I have some adult BWs and now have some juveniles I'd like to mix in...what is a good time, age, etc..Thanks in advance for any help you all may have.
What age to mix BWs
- Thread starter bietsch624
- Start date
That all depends on how much room you have for them all to live in, the type of Bobwhite and how aggressive your adults are. But I would say at 5 or 6 months old, you can try to mix the juveniles in. Watch them VERY carefully at first to make sure there is no blood shed. Give the young ones as much room as possible to escape the adult birds and even some hiding places like branches and such so they have a chance. Good luck!!
Edit to add: If it really gets brutal in the pen, you can always move them all to a new space. Sometimes a completely new territory throws everybody off from aggression and will help the young ones blend in better.
Edit to add: If it really gets brutal in the pen, you can always move them all to a new space. Sometimes a completely new territory throws everybody off from aggression and will help the young ones blend in better.
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NEVER mix different aged bobs they WILL fight.
Quote:
While mixing different ages of ANY type of quail or poultry, they will fight. But it is possible to add to your flock if you do it carefully. You may need to add additional pens if things don't work out as planned, but it is possible to mix ages.
While mixing different ages of ANY type of quail or poultry, they will fight. But it is possible to add to your flock if you do it carefully. You may need to add additional pens if things don't work out as planned, but it is possible to mix ages.
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From experience:
I combined 160 Bobs that were 3 different age groups in a 96 sq. ft. coop where:
The oldest group was 54 days old.
The youngest group was 24 days old.
These were all kept in the same pen, just were partitioned from each other until the day of combination. There was immediate rejection for the younger birds from the older ones for the first 24 - 36 hours, with random extreme brutal pecking. The "middle age" group was not really affected. After 48 hours, all was civil, and 158 now do very well in this pen....with the oldest group now 14 weeks old.
Different scenario a few weeks later (from experience).
Combined 3 different age groups of 122 in the same size pen where:
The oldest group was 24 days old.
The youngest group was 10 days old.
These 3 groups were introduced to the same pen in (3) 1-week intervals.
Absolute civility from the beginning until present (in which the oldest of the group are now nearing 8 weeks old).
Fact: You can combine "different age groups" of Bobs in the same pen, BUT the benchmark can be a moving target on what that age spread can be, from one owner to the next. If you do plan to push the envelope, at least have a "bunker" of thick tree branches, a small cardboard box with a hole big enough for the would-be victim to retreat to.........somewhere to escape the "mad man" (or woman) that just got their palace intruded upon by a newbie(s).
I combined 160 Bobs that were 3 different age groups in a 96 sq. ft. coop where:
The oldest group was 54 days old.
The youngest group was 24 days old.
These were all kept in the same pen, just were partitioned from each other until the day of combination. There was immediate rejection for the younger birds from the older ones for the first 24 - 36 hours, with random extreme brutal pecking. The "middle age" group was not really affected. After 48 hours, all was civil, and 158 now do very well in this pen....with the oldest group now 14 weeks old.
Different scenario a few weeks later (from experience).
Combined 3 different age groups of 122 in the same size pen where:
The oldest group was 24 days old.
The youngest group was 10 days old.
These 3 groups were introduced to the same pen in (3) 1-week intervals.
Absolute civility from the beginning until present (in which the oldest of the group are now nearing 8 weeks old).
Fact: You can combine "different age groups" of Bobs in the same pen, BUT the benchmark can be a moving target on what that age spread can be, from one owner to the next. If you do plan to push the envelope, at least have a "bunker" of thick tree branches, a small cardboard box with a hole big enough for the would-be victim to retreat to.........somewhere to escape the "mad man" (or woman) that just got their palace intruded upon by a newbie(s).
Quote:
Perfectly said Randall!
Perfectly said Randall!
- Thread starter
- #7
- Nov 28, 2008
- 160
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- 266
I raised my first clutch of BW's from the incubator and only 2 survived..they were killing each other. I was raising them for a friend's Pap and so I set him these two when they were feathered and ready to go outside. I started clutch number two and had 11 survive and had my DH build a small grow out coop because Pap loved the two he had so much he wanted more, but I didn't want to send them over too young. So I recently sent him 7 more. There were 4 left and I had clutch number 3 feathered and ready to go. I mixed them with the original 4 yesterday and it seems like it's been a success. Thanks all for your hints and advice..
Quote:
You should NEVER make a Blanket Statement like that!! I raised Bobs off and on for 25 years,totally agree with "twocrowsranch" put them on "NEUTRAL TERRITORY" and things seem
to get a whole lot better fast!! The answer is YES, you can mix them, just keep an eye on them!!!
You should NEVER make a Blanket Statement like that!! I raised Bobs off and on for 25 years,totally agree with "twocrowsranch" put them on "NEUTRAL TERRITORY" and things seem
to get a whole lot better fast!! The answer is YES, you can mix them, just keep an eye on them!!!
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Quote:
"Yesterday" is not long enough to know they will get along. Right now I am in the process of mixing ADULTS that have been in separate breeding cages who are now going back into the aviary together, all of whom have wintered together in this aviary for 5 years. I can mix certain ones that I feel are "less aggressive" and then days and days later, they are at each others throats. They must be watched very carefully for quite sometime. They can kill each other with in minutes when you are not around.
Different ages can be mixed, even adults. Keeping an eye on them is the key. Dont' just dump them together as at first they will get along. You may have to separate pairs as to who gets along with whom. And if all else fails, a new environment will help out quite a bit.
Every bird or birds are different and sometimes things do work out when mixing Bob's. Sometimes they don't. It is always best to be on the safe side and assume they will not get along until you deem them peaceful.
"Yesterday" is not long enough to know they will get along. Right now I am in the process of mixing ADULTS that have been in separate breeding cages who are now going back into the aviary together, all of whom have wintered together in this aviary for 5 years. I can mix certain ones that I feel are "less aggressive" and then days and days later, they are at each others throats. They must be watched very carefully for quite sometime. They can kill each other with in minutes when you are not around.
Different ages can be mixed, even adults. Keeping an eye on them is the key. Dont' just dump them together as at first they will get along. You may have to separate pairs as to who gets along with whom. And if all else fails, a new environment will help out quite a bit.
Every bird or birds are different and sometimes things do work out when mixing Bob's. Sometimes they don't. It is always best to be on the safe side and assume they will not get along until you deem them peaceful.
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Quote:
You should NEVER make a Blanket Statement like that!! I raised Bobs off and on for 25 years,totally agree with "twocrowsranch" put them on "NEUTRAL TERRITORY" and things seem
to get a whole lot better fast!! The answer is YES, you can mix them, just keep an eye on them!!!
Sorry I am just going by what I was told from a guy who raised and still raises bobs.
You should NEVER make a Blanket Statement like that!! I raised Bobs off and on for 25 years,totally agree with "twocrowsranch" put them on "NEUTRAL TERRITORY" and things seem
to get a whole lot better fast!! The answer is YES, you can mix them, just keep an eye on them!!!
Sorry I am just going by what I was told from a guy who raised and still raises bobs.
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