help I need help

[shanny2]

hi i got another quail today a male and it is pecking the female quail is it a sign of dominance

[VR1Ton]

Probably just a little randy, although most males will assert there dominance, they generally don't do any real damage to the hen, just keep an eye on him and if he dosn't play nice put him in a small cage were he can see the hen but can't get to her (thats if it is in your big cage if you've finished it).

[shanny2]

i put all my finches in there and female quail and the male got a feather and ate it

[VR1Ton]

Try giving it a bit of live food, mealworms can be bought from your local petshop. This will distract him for a while, & he may even start to offer them to the hen. Some people also use Turkey starter crumbles, but i prefer livefood, some seed, green grass seed heads, and softfood (hard boiled egg mashed thru a kitchen strainer, & mixed with Egg & Biscuit). The softfood is especially good when raising young, and the finches will love it when they are used to it.

[VR1Ton]

Did you sell off any of the young birds before they went into the new cage?

[shanny2]

i brought a new male quail and it attacks the female and how do quails show dominance

[finchbreeder]

By chasing other birds out of their territory. Follow VR's advice and put him in a smaller cage within the big cage and provide food that he can offer her till he simmers down a bit.
LML

[shanny2]

Thanks guys for your help but i did something different i brought another quail (female) and as i was watching them he is becoming more friendly

[Pete Sara]

The best thing to do next time is to place them both in a small cage/carry box with the essentials for a few hours to a day. Males can be territorial thats why he goes to peck the heads, its just like the pecking order of chickens, so there is always a cheaper option than buying another....Pete

[VR1Ton]

Put a couple of clumps of grass in each of the back corners of the cage & you might get a clutch from each hen. If you can, make up a wire cage about 60cm long & 45 cm wide & 45cm high with a roof but no bottom, out of 1/2 inch square wire with some 1/4 inch wire or flyscreen around the bottom. Just before the eggs are due, put the cage over the hen on the nest, and put some food & water in there (make sure the water is only shallow, so the peanuts won't drown). This will keep the young ones confined and reduce the chances of losing a peanut from getting seperated from the mother and getting cold. Remove the cage after about a week. There is generally no trouble with the other quail attacking the young since they have been in sight all the time.