all who are hatching quail

[dc3085]

when they boink, which is hardly ever to be fair they can hit the top but they have always seemed to be okay, not stunned, starteled or anything. they dont even moentarily pause so Im confident it is okay for them. as I says, ive just started out with my quail. its a 2 to 3 ratio and im monitering the birds. ive had them just over a week. they are getting the light etc they need. I keep them inside. they are 3 to 4 months. when do you think they will start to lay. I am being patient but also would like to know. I cant wait to hatch them

If they are 4 months old and not laying there may be a couple different things going on.

1. Stress. Stressed out quail won't lay eggs. Put them in pairs before you try anything else. I keep going back to this but there are a ton of reasons to keep them this way. Space can be a factor in stress. If I was using that enclosure for buttons I would only keep a pair in there.

2. Diet. Are you giving them calcium (oyster shells, cuttle bone etc)? Gamebird feed? what protein percentage?

3. Light. What type of light are you using?

4. Inbred birds. Sometimes breeders colony breed buttons. Sometimes these same breeders inbreed their really colorful buttons to try to get more spectacular looking birds. Sometimes those inbred babies never lay eggs at all. This is highly unlikely but does happen. There is a feed store local to me where you can buy egg-less white button quail until youre broke. The store doesn't care, the breeder doesn't care, its too late for the buyer to return it when they find out.

 

[Markyboy]

I have only had them 9 days and in their new house a week. its a normal lamp in the living room they are under and next too the patio doors so there is daylight during the day and the lamp comes into play at night but I put the lamp on when it is still daylight and the lamp slowly comes in to play as it gets darker until it becomes the only light and this gives them the 14hours light. I give them corn mix and layers pellets, oyster shell and mealworms as a treat with fresh water every day, sometimes I change the water twice depending on how dirty they can get it from stuff off the cage floor. the breeder advised me to keep them on the ratio 2 to 3. they do eat well and they seem happy sociable we birds. I have seen the male try to mate but she doesnt let him yet. they always snuggle up and get on well. they are in my living room and it is always warm enough for us so I would assume for them also. I will upload a pic as they are at this minute

.

 

[Markyboy]

not the best of pics. I had to move the cage to take that pic. camers is not very good. all of what I do is taken from google. im taking it as seriously as I can. I want to give the Quail the best quality of life possible and be good layers

 

[dc3085]

I have only had them 9 days and in their new house a week. its a normal lamp in the living room they are under and next too the patio doors so there is daylight during the day and the lamp comes into play at night but I put the lamp on when it is still daylight and the lamp slowly comes in to play as it gets darker until it becomes the only light and this gives them the 14hours light. I give them corn mix and layers pellets, oyster shell and mealworms as a treat with fresh water every day, sometimes I change the water twice depending on how dirty they can get it from stuff off the cage floor. the breeder advised me to keep them on the ratio 2 to 3. they do eat well and they seem happy sociable we birds. I have seen the male try to mate but she doesnt let him yet. they always snuggle up and get on well. they are in my living room and it is always warm enough for us so I would assume for them also. I will upload a pic as they are at this minute
.

What is the crude protein percentage listed on the feed bag? Buttons can have up to 28% but should be fed more than or at least 20% protein. Most layer formulas are 15%.

not the best of pics. I had to move the cage to take that pic. camers is not very good. all of what I do is taken from google. im taking it as seriously as I can. I want to give the Quail the best quality of life possible and be good layers

That cage is big enough for 2-3 birds tops. you might want put something solid across the bottom or top of the wire (something like that side guard) also so that if they boink their necks dont get caught in the ceiling. If google says to keep them in anything but pairs google is wrong. You can colony breed button quail and plenty of people do but it is against their natural instincts. Also when people are colony breeding them they give them a whole aviary not a hamster cage, and the ratio is something like 1 male to every 3 females, not .66 females for each male.

 

[Markyboy]

i told you the breeder advised me the 2 to3 ratio. ive only googled other things ie things they like etc info on what they eat, like to eat, lighting etc etc. im not disputing anything you are saying or turning this in to a debate but youve asked questions and ive answered them. I will pair them up and see how they get on. I wasnt expecting a male to have .66 female even if it wasnt in an indoor Rabbit cage but an avery instead. ive had to have them indoors as its winter here and they wouldnt survive the cold. it gets dark at 4.30pm. I have an avery with Golen pheasants etc but no way am I keeping the button quail out in that weather. I can only make use of what I have and apart from them not being paired up alone, i'll try that, is there anyrthing else?

 

[Markyboy]

I would be able to put something along the top so I will do that, thanks

 

[Markyboy]

I was thinking it could be because they are just setteling in to their new invironment. they were not laying before I got them either. ive watched them come out of their shell a lot over the past week. im confident they 3e happy enough

 

[dc3085]

I was thinking it could be because they are just setteling in to their new invironment. they were not laying before I got them either. ive watched them come out of their shell a lot over the past week. im confident they 3e happy enough

This falls under stress and could well be the cause. Again check the protein percentage on the bag is 20% or higher, but buttons can use the same percentage as pheasants (28%) too. The breeder is telling you keep them that way to ensure fertility, but its rough on the birds. Watch the lower backs of the males they will start stripping those feathers off first. Do you have 2 males or 3 males in the cage?

 

[Markyboy]

yes, thats what he said, fertility. your right. it is 2 males to 3 females in the cage

 

[dc3085]

You might never have a problem. Maybe. They were most likely raised together and sometimes that will allow them to be tolerant of each other. I can't recommend it but i can say it has been done with no problems. Just be watchful which it seems that you are. Give them another week if they haven't laid by then it's something else. You can always just send me a private message if you have a question too.