bobwhites not laying

[pokey]

i have several females in with two males. there are two houses for shelter and these birds are in a two level rabbit hutch that has one of the play yards attached.the birds were hatched last year. the males call but no one is laying eggs. the birds are in good shape and are seem happy. should they not be laying?

 

[Whitehouse Quail]

I am in the same position; year old bobs, and no eggs! I'm going to try letting them out in a pen; maybe the nature will induce laying... we hope!

 

[crash0330]

Lightning its a huge factor in egg production on the quails, make sure there getting 17 hours of light a day.

 

[cpbirds407]

My Bobwhites that are housed outside are not laying yet either. Lighting is a HUGE factor in laying. The inside quails that are in artificial lighting are getting 16 hours a day and they are laying very well. So, I would suggest that you add light to your cages, or wait until the days daylight get a bit longer. My two cents

 

[Mrs MIA]

Light and warmth. I'm getting eggs from my bobs that are in the garage (60-65°F) on wire and in the breeder coop (~ 45°F) on shavings. I just moved a group of new birds indoors, and after they settle in they should start laying.

How many, and how big a pen do you have them in? Wire? Shavings? Ground? How much light? What are you feeding them?

 

[mschickychick]

Mine are outside and not laying either but I noticed some chasing going on yesterday so I look for eggs within a couple of weeks. I hope anyway.

 

[pokey]

well the pen is two levels that are 2ft wide x 4 ft wide and it has one of those sections that has a open space and its like a little cubby hole for shelter.the play yard is 3x 3 square with a roof but the whole front is open to sun and all the side of the play yard are open to sun. they eat laying mash but i have checked them and the birds are very meaty, not skinny at all. and i give mine left over bread with the chickens every couple of days.... and i have shavings in the top level and both houses. and there are 6-8 females and two maybe 3 males, but everyone looks good.

 

[Mrs MIA]

Sounds like Mother Nature is just a little slow this year... give them time.

 

[aprophet]

Quote:
It took my Bobs 2 weeks of 16 hr/day lighting to start laying, my coturnix are just now starting to lay with the natural light we are getting now

 

[crash0330]

Yeah it really depends on the birds when they'll start laying, you can put them under artificial light but from there its up to them, it shouldnt take more than 4 weeks tho, mine took them almost 5 weeks but I had to move them a lot so that might've slowed down the process.