Male/female. Strange behaviour cpq

[Jaquilee]

Hi
I’ve recently bought a trio of cpq supposedly 12 weeks old. Both hens laying. Both hens had bare backs but heads ok and not sore so put them on good diet. The definite hen died after a couple of days and two eggs. There have been no eggs since. The two remaining: are a definite male typically coloured and a pied. The pied is not laying. But he isn’t courting her/him. Mealworms remain untouched.
I put a young female in their enclosure just to see what happens. The definite male immediately started a mating dance! The other bird just snuggled up with her.
I’m at a loss.
The two get on well seem happy enough together. Sleep side by side but seem almost bored!
I’ve got four 6 week old hens that I hoped to put with the males? To have two trios. But I’m waiting until they’re fully mature. But now not sure about the pied. If it is a hen I don’t want to remove it from the male?
Has anybody found this behaviour in their cpqs?
Thanks for any help

[Sandrine]

Up to 5 weeks ago when the chicks were born i only had a couple which at first I thought was a pair of females (according to the shop). Charley the male became bare back after a couple weeks of having him but he seemed quite alright otherwise. I realised eventually that once I got them the right diet, the right pellets for quails (higher in protein), things improved and Charley was actually much happier, courting etc and his feathers came back... He didn't use to eat mealworms unless Martha had accepted some him.
It took a while for Martha to settle and start laying at first.

I read somewhere that it is best for them to be in couples as they tend to be monogamous. So thinking being in a trio may have not suited them? So like have a 1:1 ratio...
But I'm no expert! Have you got photos of them?
Is the one you're not sure about bigger or same size as the male?
What colour feathers has this one got underneath? Males usually have red feathers under the tail feathers (can't remember the name).

Hope you get to the bottom of it...

[Jaquilee]

Hi Sandrine
Thank you so much for helping. I’ll try and upload pictures.
Sizewise the pied is similar to the male and the same ago. My females are all smaller but 5 weeks younger. I know females should be larger but it’s hard to say.
I wondered if the trauma of losing one had caused an issue. And obviously they’ve been in their new home only for four weeks now? I was just surprised at the males attitude being so text book at the introduction of a new female... yet the pied was only friendly, as you’d expect another female.
So why doesn’t the male mate with the pied if it’s a hen?

[Sandrine]

Yes I think they need longer to settle. I had mine on 31st March, and the first photos I could find of her eggs date of 1st August. I think she'd started laying a little before that but it took a good 10 weeks at least.
Losing one may have been a factor, but after a few days they should be back to normal again. I don't think they "mourn" for too long - not that I've noticed anyway when two of their chicks died.
The undertail coverts of male CPQ should be red as far as I know. I have added a close up of Charley's...
Behaviour wise the other difference between the male and female are the way they sometimes stand. Females tend to stay low to the ground, quite round, whilst male will look more inquisitive, more upright and often on their tiptoes, making themselves tall / elongated. (Other photo attached).
Hope you get to the bottom of it ... Yes please do post photos

[Jaquilee]

Thank you
My confusing little quail is a ‘She’ and is sitting on four eggs...
the mealworm trick doesn’t work with them... don’t think my male is very romantic. But if he is behind closed doors we should see the results in 16/18 days.

I have another question. I’ve got four young hens (?). Two are the typical brown with buff chest, one silver and one dark coloured (blue faced hen I think).

When my Cockbird whistled his three peep call, one of the birds from the girls enclosure is answering! With the three peep call. So I’ve been trying to catch them at it to see which it is. First I caught the silver bird at it. But then I caught one of the Brown ones... I’m sure the brown two are hens. Do you know if hens call the same? I’d read somewhere that their call is different?
Noted your carriage explanation earlier... they all seem to whiz around quite low... except when they do their whistle .... help
They’re 11 weeks old
Thanks for your help.


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[Jaquilee]

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[Tweetypie]

I love the photo of the one in the plant pot.

[Jaquilee]

They love their grass pots!


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[Sandrine]

What a great idea to have a grass pot