What to do?

[moretonquail]

So we have 5 quail. All 6 weeks old yesterday.

Turns out we have a set of brown male and 2 females than get on well. They are in the main bottom section of the long run (the cages are joined).

There is a Texas a&m male in the bottom purple cage alone.

And a ‘female’ (we think) in the upstairs grey section - separated- as she’s been severely pecked. We think an eye is gone. Most of the neck is damaged. She’s healing well. she could also be a male but I’ve never heard her crow! Hard to tell with her tuxedo colouring.

only one brown female has laid so far.
My question is can I (when healed) place the tuxedo and Texas a&m male and female together? I don’t want to disturb the trio that seem happy. Or do I try and return the tuxedo to the trio and lose one of the cock?
Do I keep all females and lose all males?

We only want these as pets & eggs. Not to breed.

 

[SpotTheCat]

I would either just keep the trio or try and introduce the tuxedo to the trio, get rid of all the other males. To introduce the tuxedo you might want to try putting her where the other quail can see her but not get to her for a few days

 

[moretonquail]

I would either just keep the trio or try and introduce the tuxedo to the trio, get rid of all the other males. To introduce the tuxedo you might want to try putting her where the other quail can see her but not get to her for a few days

Thanks. I’ll try to move tuxedo next to them. How “healed” does she need to be to reintroduce?? Her neck has no feathers and I worry the cock will mate and hurt her further if she’s not properly ready.

 

[SpotTheCat]

Thanks. I’ll try to love tuxedo next to them. How “healed” does she need to be to reintroduce?? Her neck has no feathers and I worry the cock will mate and hurt her further if she’s not properly ready.

I am not sure, the feathers may take quite long to come back (I don’t know how long), maybe start the introduction and put her in once she has no open wounds/has all her feathers, I don’t like leaving quail on their own too long

 

[Nabiki]

If you only want them for pets and eggs, I would get rid of all of the males. It sounds like you have one who gets along with the rest, so he's probably worth keeping, but he's not necessary.

In my experience if you have a lot of dark birds and put one light or white one in with them, it will get picked on and injured. They are social creatures, though, so you don't want to keep them alone. Your bird sounds healed enough to reintroduce, but keep an eye on her in case she's a target.

 

[moretonquail]

If you only want them for pets and eggs, I would get rid of all of the males. It sounds like you have one who gets along with the rest, so he's probably worth keeping, but he's not necessary.

In my experience if you have a lot of dark birds and put one light or white one in with them, it will get picked on and injured. They are social creatures, though, so you don't want to keep them alone. Your bird sounds healed enough to reintroduce, but keep an eye on her in case she's a target.

Could the males live together?

 

[SpotTheCat]

Could the males live together?

No, they will just fight and try to mate each other

 

[Nabiki]

Could the males live together?

Unlikely. The only way you could do it is if they live without any hens within sight or sound, and even then they might not get along.