Coturnix quail not laying. Why?

[Starrponies]

I would remove a male or two to get closer to a 1:5 ratio. Other than that, especially with winter hatches, sometimes it can take up to 12 weeks before they lay.

They are in two breeding sets of 4 to one rooster in nice cages. The other males are in two separate small cages, but all same room, all 12. One roo isis horribly mean and one is just a freak no offense to him they shall be culled soon for dinner. But maybe it should be today's dinner?

 

[Starrponies]

It took my quail a while to start laying - we bought full grown adults but we had them inside for a while before we made their enclosure, then we got more quail, then we had quail drama/trauma, then I couldn't figure out why they hadn't started laying by 3 months (12 weeks!)...

They lay now, constantly. Tbh I wish they'd take a break. I would make sure they're getting around 14-16 hours of bright light (Christmas lights may or may not cut it) and give them about 2 weeks from your last big adjustment to see if they'll lay. You might even be fiddling around too often with their enclosure for them to get used to their environment - some quail seem more sensitive.

I can wait three more weeks! I do only go in their about twice a day. To turn on and off lights. There is also a big shop light on top. It's pretty bright in there.

 

[Starrponies]

I got eggs today! Needed to be patient and poof eggs. Thanks everyone! I'm celebrating

 

[Starrponies]

Now that they are laying they need extra calcium right? I know I can give shells and oyster but would rather just have a complete feed in case I'm busy. But, I can't seem to find anything for layers with enough protein. Could I mix my own? Like half layer that is 20 % protein, half high protein starter feed 30% to make a 25% protein feed with more calcium than the starter? Then still feed eggshells and oyster on side?

 

[Nabiki]

You could add the oyster or egg shell to their feed, but if you just offer it on the side they'll eat as much as they need.

 

[Starrponies]

You could add the oyster or egg shell to their feed, but if you just offer it on the side they'll eat as much as they need.

More questions and I like your idea! I can't thank you enough for all your help all the time Most oyster shell I'm seeing is big pieces. Can a coffee grinder make it smaller? Or is the average size ok? And can it be chicken eggs too or only quail. Just curious if I need to keep egg types separate cause I give them back to the chickens too.

 

[Huntmaster]

More questions and I like your idea! I can't thank you enough for all your help all the time Most oyster shell I'm seeing is big pieces. Can a coffee grinder make it smaller? Or is the average size ok? And can it be chicken eggs too or only quail. Just curious if I need to keep egg types separate cause I give them back to the chickens too.

No need to separate shells. Some OC can be a little large for quail, I buy a large bag and use the smaller crumbles/powder to give to quail and larger pieces go to my larger birds. I just made a colander used to screen OC with appropriate size holes to screen the fines out of large bag.

 

[Nabiki]

More questions and I like your idea! I can't thank you enough for all your help all the time Most oyster shell I'm seeing is big pieces. Can a coffee grinder make it smaller? Or is the average size ok? And can it be chicken eggs too or only quail. Just curious if I need to keep egg types separate cause I give them back to the chickens too.

I use a stainless steel mortar. The oyster shell I buy is pretty thin and soft, so it crushes into smaller pieces easily. I don't see any reason to separate your egg and oyster shells. The birds will pick out what they like.

 

[Starrponies]

I use a stainless steel mortar. The oyster shell I buy is pretty thin and soft, so it crushes into smaller pieces easily. I don't see any reason to separate your egg and oyster shells. The birds will pick out what they like.

I meant keeping chicken egg shells and quail eggs separate. Not sure if quail would care about it being chicken shells.

 

[Starrponies]

No need to separate shells. Some OC can be a little large for quail, I buy a large bag and use the smaller crumbles/powder to give to quail and larger pieces go to my larger birds. I just made a colander used to screen OC with appropriate size holes to screen the fines out of large bag.

So easy! Your a genius