Can anybody help with my king quails :)

[besketty]

Hi everyone.

I was just wondering if somebody could help me with a quail problem I'm having. The female keeps pecking all the males feathers off his back and just being really agressive.

They have obviously at some stage mated as she's laid fertile eggs before but wont sit on them.

I've had to seperate them but obviously at some stage would like to put them in the same aviary together. Any advice is greatly appreciated

Michelle

[sebzpets]

Hi Michelle and welcome....glad you found the forum,it's a bit easier than emails.

I'm sure others will come along and help out with your problem.

Hen quails do tend to become rather dominate at times...as do males. Though at this time of year it is a bit unusual.


As she has laid fertile eggs previously it is possible that she is acquiring nesting material from the cock bird to line her nest with. Try adding some nesting material from the pet shop in a few spots on the aviary floor and see if that helps. How long have they been paired off for? If it is a reasonably short time than chances are he is a young bird that just hasn't matured enough to "stand" up to her yet.

Where are you located? Mites tend to be an issue after rain so he could have mites...red mite are a bugger and yes quail get them the same as chooks,so she could be trying to get them off him if he does have an infestation.

Poor little henpecked fella....

Tell me you mentioned in an email that you candled their eggs...what sort of light did you use as quail eggs being so dark I haven't even bothered trying to candle them?

[besketty]

Hi Sebastion

Thanks for the welcome Thanks for the advice too.

I'm in Brisbane. I did check for mites because initially I thought that could be the reason for his feathers in such bad shape. He definately doesn't have them though. I've watched her, as soon as the pin feathers start to grow back she runs behind him and pecks them all out. They have only been paired for about 3 months so perhaps he hasn't matured enough to stand up to her yet. He does't even really seem to be scared of her, until she gives him a good peck then he's back next to her again.

I didn't think the quail eggs could be candled either but hubby has a really strong little torch and I used that. I did it in a pitch dark room and if you get the egg at the right angle you can see right through it.

I did notice the infertile ones were had a lighter shell than the fertile one - not sure if this is the norm. But yep, I could see they were light and clear inside. The fertile one had a dark mass and the airpocket had become bigger and was off centre.

Have a great day

Michelle

[besketty]

The torch is small so fits snug onto the egg, there wasn't any light coming from around the egg if that makes sense. I tried before with a bigger torch but couldn't see anything. The budgies eggs are really easy though. Usually just hold them up to the sun.

[sebzpets]

Michelle can you please tell me the brand of the torch? It would be so much better than I have for candling my chicken eggs.

I tend to just hold all my finch/dove eggs upto to sun,but your torch might be great so I can do the canaries as well.

[besketty]

Hi Sebastian

It's a small red torch and it has eight tiny globes in a circle and one in the middle. It's almost like a key ring torch, just little bigger. It's very heavy for its size. It doesn't have a name on it (doesn't even say "made in china" *shock horror*).

Hubby reckons he got it a good few years ago in a staff promotional pack. He says he's *sure* he has seen them at super cheap auto for about $15 - $20. It's a really great torch - yesterday we got to see the heart beat in a week old budgie egg Amazing. I suppose you just need any strong small torch. I'm sure you'll find something there. Maybe try a camping shop or another auto shop as well if Super Cheap don't have

Michelle

[Jane]

Hi Michelle, If its any consulation most of my quails are missing feathers too, I have seen my budgies pluck them on ocassion but even 2 hens quails together are missing feathers, (for the record no lice either).

[sebzpets]

Ahhh and finally another quail gal.

I have actually moved my silver quail on in the hope of acquiring some Californian's this season...must be the success I had last year that has moved me forward.

Michelle how is the Budgie boy going anyway? I am hoping (and praying) that he is moving forward in leaps and bounds.

[sebzpets]

Opps just for the record Michelle placed a few quail eggs under a budgie and managed to hatch one....so no I have not lost the plot or ability to read lmao