HELP, HELP, HELP

Oh my goodness, what a day.

I decided to mix up the quails a little bit and see how they got on. I had got my orginal 4 birds (1 male, 4 female) together. Then the new birds together 1 male, 1 female. So i put the 2 females and 1 male in with the originals and they seemed ok. Popped into the house and came back to a bloodbath, the new mail has savaged the older male and he looks so poorly. I have cleaned up his wounds, his head is raw and now bald, he has a bloody beak and a very swolen eye. I just feel awful about this, it is my fault. I have seperated them all out again and all seems calm, but i am not sure about the older male, i guess if he does the night he may have a chance, but i am pretty worried about him.

Has this happened to anyone else out there?

I was just looking for some help and advice on what to do now really.

A very sad and distraught
Batty

PS all the birds have been in together and this has not occured before.

So sorry to hear that. With chickens you have to introduce them slowly and have them in sight of each other and let them get used to each other for a week. Then finally popping them in at night when things are calmer.

I haven't introduced any quail yet - but need to introduce a couple of males (if I have enough females) to create a new bloodline.

Derek advised me to put the male/s into a budgie type cage, and put that into the aviary with the new girls. Then to move the cage around in different places within the aviary, so that they all get used to seeing each other. After which you can let them all run together which will reduce any bullying. (Fingers crossed)

I got a square budgie cage from Freecycle (swapped it for some jars of home made jam and a thank you card) in readiness. I also got a square cage which opens down one side - must be for perhaps rabbits or other mammals - as a carrier - so I might use that.

I can't give you any constructive help as I am new to quail (but not chickens). But it seems like you have done the right thing by cleaning up the wounds. I can only assume that the resident male was just defending his right to the females. Perhaps 2 males between 5 females might 'tip the ratio'

Someone will be along to advise you soon.

Hope all is well in the morning.

Please don't be too hard on yourself - you have done the right thing to separate them and treat any wounds. It will all work out. xxx

It is horrible when they fight, but hopefully your male will make a full recovery - here's a couple of links to my poor spike, he took a terrible beating as a youngster from his brothers, but after a little TLC he was fine and added back into his group.

https://coturnixcorneruk.forumotion.com/health-f4/head-injury-t132.htm

https://coturnixcorneruk.forumotion.com/health-f4/head-injury-update-t202.htm

Suz

Gosh - so what was the end of the story with Spike. Last August he was sleeping where the dogs used to and now?????????????????

I like to think that he lived happily ever after with his own ladies, and has fathered some offspring

Yes Spike was added back to his group where became top cock over his attackers , in October i noticed he chipped his beak, but it grew back -

https://coturnixcorneruk.forumotion.com/your-quails-f22/spike-t366.htm

I can seem to find more pics of him on the forum, but thats a good excuse to take some more

but in the mean time this is some of his offspring from his pairing with Goldie

https://coturnixcorneruk.forumotion.com/your-quails-f22/young-golden-jap-s-t566.htm

Suz

Oh good - I like a happy ever after. Did you use the cage method to introduce him?

No white ones like him then - they are lovely birds.

yes he had mixed babies with a gold wife - that was an experiment breeding to see the size of offspring as both parents were jumbos, just so happens i took pics of the 3 golds.

Nope I just re-introduced them before the other males were in breeding condition, same as always

Wallace has made it through the night, but is still looking poorly and is making snuffly noises which is a bit of a worry. I am leaving him along today and hope the quiet will do him good, but i shall get him out later and bathe his wounds again. I am hoping he is going to pull through as he is such a character, but he is getting on for 6 years old now, so that might present problems i guess. How old do quails get? Keep your fingers crossed for him.

Hugs
Batty XxX

Hope he recovers. I haven't any personal experience of how long quails live. The 'literature' I have read often says 2.5 years for quail - but I guess that depends on all sorts of factors. Especially ours are not in the wild!

I know I have had chickens live longer than 'predicted'. Wonderful to learn that quails can live a long life. Hope mine do too.