Author Topic: sexing qual (Read 1695 times)

shearling · « **on:** July 10, 2011, 04:41:08 pm »

Hi I have just gone mad and bought 4 qual one is a cock. Is there a plumage or size way of sexing them?

little blue · « **Reply #1 on:** July 10, 2011, 05:13:44 pm »

are they Japanese?
the males have a rust-coloured bellies, and will show "foam" (just like it sounds!) from about 5 weeks old...

they are all sexually mature at about 5 weeks, so you'll soon see!
and they have a ear-piercing whistle, often heard later in the evening/late night, rather than at "cock-crow!"

Chrisw · « **Reply #2 on:** July 10, 2011, 05:56:10 pm »

I find the two main diferences are their plumage and the other is their beak, in males it is more curved over and it is usually shorter

shearling · « **Reply #3 on:** July 11, 2011, 04:27:13 pm »

They are Tuxedo Quail. We bought them as three hens and a cock. One has a slightly redder breast, so it sounds like the cock from what you say little blue. We have had one egg, but without a camera not sure from which bird

little blue · « **Reply #4 on:** July 11, 2011, 06:19:19 pm »

any chance of posting a photo of them?

Our Tuxedo quail are still Japanese, it generally refers to their colouring. So ours have creamy white breasts and dark backs, to look like they a wearing a dinner jacket (like penguins!)

this time of year, from mature but young hens you should be getting a fair few eggs.

tip them back gently in your hand, the females have more sticky-in bits (inverted) and the males domed, with the foam often evident (ahem!)

shearling · « **Reply #5 on:** July 11, 2011, 06:48:09 pm »

Will do Little Blue, but at the end of the week (camera issues!). Ours do not have much darkness on their backs at the mo, but they are still 'in quill' a bit do not know correct terminology. They looked very different to 'ordinary' Quail that I have seen before and comparison at the sale. They are a bit stressed at the moment too when we go near so getting them used to people slowly.