Broody Quail has hatched eggs

[Lauraangharad]

I have had a broody quail who has successfully hatched 10 out of 12 eggs. I've been searching for information on this throughout but couldn't find any information, only people asking the same questions so I thought I'd post my results to help others. I have 3 quail, 2 female and 1 male. All are 3-5 years old. Only one lays and they don't have fertile eggs however they had been hiding and collecting they're eggs in one space. Trying to make up a clutch. I started to collect all eggs and put them in their nesting box. Once they had 10, one started sitting. This happened last year, I let her sit although I knew they wouldn't hatch to see how long she would sit for. I took the eggs way and she started laying again. This year the same thing happened and I ordered fertile eggs and replaced her infertile clutch with the new eggs. She sat. Her friend would sometimes sit for her to have a break and the male has been a good Watchman for them. Last night, she has hatched 10 chicks. All very healthy, no problems and is being a great mother (one of my worries). The other 2 quail are very protective of them all and haven't attacked them (another one of my worries). If you have a broody quail, give them the chance. I've had a really positive experience with it. I hope this is helpful. I've attached photos.

 

[sourland]

Thanks for sharing this.

 

[Lauraangharad]

Thanks for sharing this.

Thank you!

 

[Ravenlover]

I have had a broody quail who has successfully hatched 10 out of 12 eggs. I've been searching for information on this throughout but couldn't find any information, only people asking the same questions so I thought I'd post my results to help others. I have 3 quail, 2 female and 1 male. All are 3-5 years old. Only one lays and they don't have fertile eggs however they had been hiding and collecting they're eggs in one space. Trying to make up a clutch. I started to collect all eggs and put them in their nesting box. Once they had 10, one started sitting. This happened last year, I let her sit although I knew they wouldn't hatch to see how long she would sit for. I took the eggs way and she started laying again. This year the same thing happened and I ordered fertile eggs and replaced her infertile clutch with the new eggs. She sat. Her friend would sometimes sit for her to have a break and the male has been a good Watchman for them. Last night, she has hatched 10 chicks. All very healthy, no problems and is being a great mother (one of my worries). The other 2 quail are very protective of them all and haven't attacked them (another one of my worries). If you have a broody quail, give them the chance. I've had a really positive experience with it. I hope this is helpful. I've attached photos.

It was less work on me and now my other has 6 eggs all spider veined when candled so lets see if she is a good mom too

 

[Lauraangharad]

It was less work on me and now my other has 6 eggs all spider veined when candled so lets see if she is a good mom too

That's so lovely to see! I've been on pins with mine and everytime I googled there were never any results with quail hatched, just how it's rare or been bred out of them - I think it's more to do with their environment. Wish I'd let her carry on sooner now and not worried so much. Fingers crossed for you - let me know how she does!

 

[FloorCandy]

I have a broody on day 12 or 13. I took her and the eggs inside on the first or second day that I saw her sitting. She rejected one egg several days ago, and it was developing, so I’m hopeful the rest are doing well, I think there’s 9 or 10. I don’t take them to candle or bother her other than filling the water and cleaning poop. She tried to sit last year and I never let her.

 

[Lauraangharad]

I have a broody on day 12 or 13. I took her and the eggs inside on the first or second day that I saw her sitting. She rejected one egg several days ago, and it was developing, so I’m hopeful the rest are doing well, I think there’s 9 or 10. I don’t take them to candle or bother her other than filling the water and cleaning poop. She tried to sit last year and I never let her.

That's so great to hear. I just looked at your threads and followed that one - I like to see the end result. I feel as if poor quail have been done a disservice with "it's rare and it's been bred out of them". I wish I'd separated mine, but I was too scared to move her just in case it put her off plus they're all a bit fierce with me at the moment. Hoping the other quail will stay protective of them and not attack them. I didn't bother mine either, food/water and that's it. Really hope it goes well for you, I'm sure it will though

 

[FloorCandy]

That's so great to hear. I just looked at your threads and followed that one - I like to see the end result. I feel as if poor quail have been done a disservice with "it's rare and it's been bred out of them". I wish I'd separated mine, but I was too scared to move her just in case it put her off plus they're all a bit fierce with me at the moment. Hoping the other quail will stay protective of them and not attack them. I didn't bother mine either, food/water and that's it. Really hope it goes well for you, I'm sure it will though

Now that she’s inside, none of the others in the pen she was in are collecting eggs, but when she was in there, some of them would try to sit. I’m hoping if they’re hen raised, the chicks will be more inclined to brood when they’re grown.

 

[Lauraangharad]

Now that she’s inside, none of the others in the pen she was in are collecting eggs, but when she was in there, some of them would try to sit. I’m hoping if they’re hen raised, the chicks will be more inclined to brood when they’re grown.

I'm hoping the same. I think I'll forget having a garden, it'll be quail kingdom instead!

 

[Ravenlover]

I have a broody on day 12 or 13. I took her and the eggs inside on the first or second day that I saw her sitting. She rejected one egg several days ago, and it was developing, so I’m hopeful the rest are doing well, I think there’s 9 or 10. I don’t take them to candle or bother her other than filling the water and cleaning poop. She tried to sit last year and I never let her.

See I sneak it I disctract then with some wax worms or something then while they are lured out of the cage I have the misses watch them and I sneak the eggs away to a dark room candle then sneak back, they never tell