Black Breasted BQ

[desertbirds]

I reckon running several cocks with a hen alleviates some of the problems but im no expert on BBBQs, i never encountered agression other than the hen killing chicks.

[Lukec]

This was standard fair when I bred them spanna, she will settle a little, remember she is dominant .

[spanna]

This was standard fair when I bred them spanna, she will settle a little, remember she is dominant .

Yeah she was never really aggressive, just courting him really! Bit if a... different... courtship Call (which is weird initself!!) to the male, attack him and try and convince him you're a good mother...

Have settled down now, had a quick check after I got home from work (on the verge of nightfall, finches weren't happy but lights are on for them) and both are still alive, which is a good start!!
I THINK they were roosting together under the same clump of grass, so they may well have bonded in the 6 hours I was away today.

The male has heaps of hiding spots to get away too (including a seperate part of the aviary only accessible after jumping/flying over a concrete division), and when I left them alone he would find refuge and the hen would leave him be and go for a scratch or to the maggot bowl, so I as happy enough to leave them alone the rest of the day. Would have been nice to watch them all day, or at least for a bit more this arvo, but I had to work to help my bank balance recover from the purchase

I reckon running several cocks with a hen alleviates some of the problems but im no expert on BBBQs, i never encountered agression other than the hen killing chicks.

I'm not sure my aviaries are quite large enough for multiple cocks in the one aviary, though I may give it a go in future. For the moment I'll run one cock per aviary, if they breed well next season and I have young to swap with someone then I'll maybe try another cock in the large aviary (12 by 3 metres). I don't think there would be space in my other aviary (6 by 3 metres). Next step, as always, is more aviaries!! Before that I may need to purchase my own house on acreage...

[Jayburd]

If one aviary is not big enough for multiple males, put a male in each of your many aviaries and rotate the hen maybe?

[spanna]

Only got 2 breeding aviaries J!! Otherwise that would be my plan

[Jayburd]

well theres a simple answer to that one, isn't there.....?

[spanna]

I wish mate, I wish. Need to move out of my parents place first me thinks! Then I'll have more aviaries than house, and nobody to answer to!! Well, my prettier half, but she encourages me rather than holds me back!!!

[Jayburd]

Know the feeling, its exactly the same here!!! Except for the better half, o'course

[spanna]

J you've got plenty of time for girls later in life, just don't do what I did and let your bird keeping suffer for it! Still regret that to this day, a good 4 years where birds were always an afterthought, from when I was 14 to 18. And if they don't like your birding hobbies then they aren't worth keeping

Update on the quail: Both looking good this morning, no aggression between them, though the male is very skittish still. Should have him tamed down in a week or so with the aid of a few accurately thrown mealworms. The other pair are doing great, and the soil in the aviaries looks healthier than ever!!!

[Jayburd]

Well spoken
Glad to hear the quail are doing well. Hope they make lots of little quail!!!