bald head????

[Beth]

Help,  one of my females is acting very quiet and all ruffled.  I noticed today that the back of her head is bald and bloody.  I have 6 female Bobs and 1 male.  What could be wrong?
She is about 1 1/2 year old.  Predators couldn't have gotten to her, only the other quail. :(
I seperated her from the others and put some triple antibiotic ointment on the bald area.  Put vitamins in her water.  Any suggestions??

[stewaw]

Sounds like a classic case of the dominant hen(s) picking on her.  Mine do that from time to time.  When I discover it, I move the injured one (and one or two randomly selected other females) to a different cage with a different male.  I don't think I've ever had to move a hen twice.  I try to keep up (by leg banding) who gets along with who and who I should NEVER put together.

David

[Beth]

I noticed that all the females are getting small bald areas on the back of their heads.  Are male quail the same as roosters(chicken) in that they grab the female by the head feathers to hold on?  Is this normal or do I have a rough male?

[pgbirdman]

I've seen very agressive behavior with male quail.  Yes, they do grab the female by the feathers on the back of the head.  If there are none, skin will do.  And they try constantly.

[uplandmom]

ALL my female cotornix quail are bald-can't take them to the auction like that.