How do I integrate two groups of quail?

[Fishychix]

I have two groups of 1 male, 2 females. The one male is being very aggressive to one of his hens with blood all over. The top of her beak is a mess because she keeps running into the cage wire trying to get away from him. I took out the male and want to combine these two females with my other group whose male is much more calm. Any suggestions?
Also, how do I dispatch of the other terror?
@Nabiki, I did read your article, but am having trouble with the whole using scissors thing. What else can I do/use? I have never done this before.

 

[CascadeQUAIL]

I have two groups of 1 male, 2 females. The one male is being very aggressive to one of his hens with blood all over. The top of her beak is a mess because she keeps running into the cage wire trying to get away from him. I took out the male and want to combine these two females with my other group whose male is much more calm. Any suggestions?
Also, how do I dispatch of the other terror?
@Nabiki, I did read your article, but am having trouble with the whole using scissors thing. What else can I do/use? I have never done this before.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/using-vinegar-when-combing-coveys.1414527/
Check out this method / thread, haven't tried it yet myself.

 

[Fishychix]

Interesting. I will definitely give it a try. Thanks!

 

[Nabiki]

I have two groups of 1 male, 2 females. The one male is being very aggressive to one of his hens with blood all over. The top of her beak is a mess because she keeps running into the cage wire trying to get away from him. I took out the male and want to combine these two females with my other group whose male is much more calm. Any suggestions?
Also, how do I dispatch of the other terror?
@Nabiki, I did read your article, but am having trouble with the whole using scissors thing. What else can I do/use? I have never done this before.

A sharp knife would work, but I think it would be harder to hold the quail still. There are people who simply tear the head off, but you have to be very decisive and quick for that to work (I'm not willing to try it). The shears are the quickest, most humane way that I can come up with. Even if the shears aren't sharp enough, they break the neck immediately.

A little over a year ago, I didn't think I could do it. I tried to find someone I could pay to do it, or trade some of the meat to do it for me. With no takers, I realized that I was going to have to learn to do it myself. I spent three months psyching myself up to it (from the time I set my first eggs) until I finally did. I still don't like doing it, but I know how to well enough to have written an article on it.

It gets easier with practice.

The two ways that I've introduced new birds is by:
1. Putting everyone into a new pen all at the same time.
2. Putting the smaller group into a tote or something inside the main pen where they can see but not touch the other birds. After 3-7 days, you can let them loose with little trouble.

Either way, you still need to watch them to make sure they get along. Each bird has a different personality.

 

[FloorCandy]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/using-vinegar-when-combing-coveys.1414527/
Check out this method / thread, haven't tried it yet myself.

I just did this and I’ve been updating my progress on that thread. I combined 11, 5.5-6 week olds with 14 that were about 2.5 weeks younger. They never saw or met each other. This is the third day and there’s been no blood or violence and everyone looks like they’ve always been together. My big ones were from a small roo and my littles were from a large roo, and the 3 biggest are easily the size of most of the big chicks so size related stomping etc wasn’t a concern. I had 3 male big chicks who initially were chasey, but settled down after a couple squirts from the water bottle, and today I saw the ring leader eating at the feeder with 3 littles.

 

[hedgemoo]

I was not looking foward to culling with scissors, but I've managed three now. As everyone will tell you, it gets easier.

If you're worried about not making a clean cut, theres a couple of things to bear in mind. One is the neck is less substantial than it looks. Theres a lot of floof in the feathers making them look fatter than they are. Its a pretty light, easy to sheer bone, amd not much actual flesh.

The other thing is that the worst case scenario, of not severing the neck the first time, is not the disaster I was terrified it would be. I have some not great sheers I need to replace, and this happened to me. When their neck is half cut, they go still, and you can within a second take a breath and finish them off. You won't have a badly injured bird flapping about, which was my big worry with the whole thing.

My advice as a fellow newbie would be, get 1) the best sheers you can afford and 2) maybe buy a supermarket chicken and spend some time cutting its thinner bones to give you an idea.

 

[Fishychix]

So, I used the ACV and it seemed to work really well except for the male. He went right for the previously victimized female and just kept at it. There must be something about her. ??? I took him out and put him back in his old cage. Now I have both males I don’t know what to do with.
I’m still a bit bothered by having to actually cull them. They’re just so little. It’s my worst nightmare is accidentally killing something small. I won’t hold a hamster for example.
Could I freeze them or otherwise stun them somehow? I just don’t want to fight them.

 

[CascadeQUAIL]

So, I used the ACV and it seemed to work really well except for the male. He went right for the previously victimized female and just kept at it. There must be something about her. ??? I took him out and put him back in his old cage. Now I have both males I don’t know what to do with.
I’m still a bit bothered by having to actually cull them. They’re just so little. It’s my worst nightmare is accidentally killing something small. I won’t hold a hamster for example.
Could I freeze them or otherwise stun them somehow? I just don’t want to fight them.

Can you not find someone to take them? I have good luck on Craigslist, might even make a buck or 2.

 

[Nabiki]

Freezing is a cruel death. Stunning is also more cruel than a quick death. You could take him to a vet. I can't imagine that it would cost much to euthanize a tiny bird like that, but it depends on the vet.

 

[Nabiki]

Can you not find someone to take them? I have good luck on Craigslist, might even make a buck or 2.

The chances of getting anyone taking a roo are really slim. If one bird has to get rehomed, make the hen.