Agressive Gambles males

[magnumhntr]

I have my Gambel breeders paired up in 14" X 22" breeder pens, giving them over 1 sq/ft/bird. Constant supply of food, and water through nipple drinkers. To date I've lost 3 hens to over aggressive males. The hens have all the feathers gone from the top of thier head to the base of thier tail, like the male was no stop trying to breed her. 3 different pairs have now killed thier mate. Is this normal for gambles? Are they usually that agressive towards the hens? First time I've ever seen it this bad.

Thanks!

Chris

[CharlieHorse]

I know nothing about the behavior of Gambles. I have/had 7 Adult Bobs (6 male/1 female). This will be their 3rd summer, born and raised together. I have never had any problems with them in the past. They have all kinds of room to get around/hide/perches/etc. (160 sq. ft.) This spring they are killing each other off. I now have 4 left (3 male/1 female) at this time, except for my 81 newborns! I'm sure that my problem is a breeding/territorial thing, in which may be your problem also.  Although my Bobs have never harmed a hen. I'm just not sure why I've never had this problem the past 2 springs.    Mine may have just started being aggresive because of their age? I don't know.

Just food for thought.

[Creek]

I have a male Gamble doing this also. First to a male and then to a female. I had to remove them from his pen and pair them up  by there selfs. He was real agresive and worked over the tops of there heads real good. He don`t bother thr other hens for some reason.

[magnumhntr]

It's weird because the others took to thier hens with no problems at all. Oh well, off to the freezer with them ;-)

[Reeves]

I don't have Gambels, but I have 2 pair of Valleys. They are next to each other, in huge pens (for Quail). Before I got the second hen, I noticed the one with a hen would whack the hen when it got near the other.

Are yours next to each other ? Can see each other ?

[jchiar]

Should do ok in freezer ,to dark to fight

[magnumhntr]

Should do ok in freezer ,to dark to fight

LOL!!! I hear ya.

They cannot see each other. There is a solid divider between them. We culled the aggressive males, and now they are gonna be on the rotisery ;-)