The Feather-Plucking in Blue-Breasted Quails (Synoicus chinensis): An Abnormal Behavior Associated with Courtship Feeding?

Abstract

Twenty pairs of blue-breasted quail were utilized in this study. Lettuce was provided daily to the quails beginning at 70 days of age. Observations of feather plucking, feather eating behavior, and feather condition scores were made at 65 and 100 days of age. Furthermore, the number of fertile eggs from the first ten eggs was recorded during the periods of 52-70 days and 95-115 days of age.

This study examines the relationship between feather plucking and courtship feeding in blue-breasted quail. It was hypothesised that the plucking behaviour observed in both males and females may be linked to courtship feeding, with males offering plucked feathers to females. However, statistical analysis revealed no significant correlation between feather condition scores and the number of fertilized eggs at both 52-70 days and 95-110 days (P > 0.05). The results suggest that while feather plucking, followed by its consumption by females, may be linked to courtship feeding, it remains unclear whether this behavior directly influences reproductive success in this species, as no significant correlation was found in this study.