Broody quail hen :)

[FenDruadin]

I know the odds of a broody coturnix making it to term are low, but I'm gonna let her sit. I keep my quail on grass/weeds in a quail tractor, and add lots of enrichment (mostly cover in various forms-brush, branches, an upside down box, etc. They're very, very happy birds. This one has been accumulating eggs for a few days since I've been busy hatching and haven't collected. She's got a lovely dirt nest she dug out for herself. And now she sits.

When I tried to collect the eggs earlier today, she got very upset. So I'll leave them. They're very warm. She's clearly been sitting on them all night. This should be interesting.

Any of y'all ever had a quail hen bring a batch of eggs to hatch?

 

[nchls school]

I know the odds of a broody coturnix making it to term are low, but I'm gonna let her sit.Actually, the odds are better than you might think. I have had a cortunix hatch and raise chicks a couple of times. The hen was raised by a bantam. That may be why the quail nested naturally, but I'm not sure of that.

I had pictures of the quail hen with chicks, but the pictures were lost when this site changed its format. The hen raised two clutches of ten in two months. After that I lost the hen to a severe storm.

I keep my quail on grass/weeds in a quail tractor, and add lots of enrichment (mostly cover in various forms-brush, branches, an upside down box, etc. They're very, very happy birds. This one has been accumulating eggs for a few days since I've been busy hatching and haven't collected. She's got a lovely dirt nest she dug out for herself. And now she sits. I did not have the pair in a big pen and when I saw the male constantly driving the hen off the nest I removed the male to bachelor quarters. Watch your male as you might have to remove him if you want the hen to hatch successfully. When she starts to brood she will try to build a nest around and under the eggs. If possible, put some straw/dried grasses near where the eggs are. If the bird is serious about brooding you should see nest building fairly soon. Should you do this be quick and unobtrusive as you can-spread the grasses out where they can be reached from the nest, but not in a pile and not too much at a time. It's rather fun to watch the nest construction because it can get quite elaborate. Quail, unlike other birds, build their nest after the eggs are laid. I've also had button quail nest and brood; their behavior is the same.

When I tried to collect the eggs earlier today, she got very upset. So I'll leave them. They're very warm. She's clearly been sitting on them all night. This should be interesting.

Any of y'all ever had a quail hen bring a batch of eggs to hatch?

I do wish I had pictures to show you. My hen was quite tame and I was able to take a lot of pictures, but... After the chicks hatched I brought them and the hen indoors and used a big plastic tub as a pen With both broods the hen weaned the chicks at ten days of age-they grow fast. I'll look and see if I can find my old posts. Maybe I can show them to you.

 

[muddy75]

ive has them accumulate the eggs but typically abandoned them after 1-2 days so I took them out.....have allowed broody silkies to incubate them but not coturnix.....good luck!!!

 

[FenDruadin]

Thank you so much! This is very encouraging. Okay, I will give her a pile of straw and also more brush for cover tomorrow. I usually move the pen every few days, and obviously I can't do that now, unless I put something else over her and move everyone else without her. Any thoughts on whether that's a good idea?

I also need to remove some extras. She's got more than she can fit under her. How many should I leave, ideally?

 

[nchls school]

Thank you so much! This is very encouraging. Okay, I will give her a pile of straw and also more brush for cover tomorrow. Do not change the pen now. Provide the nest material, but make no other changes. I usually move the pen every few days, and obviously I can't do that now, unless I put something else over her and move everyone else without her. Any thoughts on whether that's a good idea? Leave the pen in one spot and after you add nest material do not disturb her. When the nest is complete you, most likely, will not be able to see the hen or eggs.

I also need to remove some extras. She's got more than she can fit under her. How many should I leave, ideally? How many does she have? It's surprising just how much they can spread themselves out to cover eggs; mine raised ten chicks each time so I'd say that you should remove any eggs much over that number. Keep in mind-the more you disturb the nest the less likely the hen will continue brooding.

I was unable to locate the pictures.[/QUOTE]

 

[FenDruadin]

Thank you so much. I will do as you say!

 

[Quailobsessed]

I know the odds of a broody coturnix making it to term are low, but I'm gonna let her sit. I keep my quail on grass/weeds in a quail tractor, and add lots of enrichment (mostly cover in various forms-brush, branches, an upside down box, etc. They're very, very happy birds. This one has been accumulating eggs for a few days since I've been busy hatching and haven't collected. She's got a lovely dirt nest she dug out for herself. And now she sits.

When I tried to collect the eggs earlier today, she got very upset. So I'll leave them. They're very warm. She's clearly been sitting on them all night. This should be interesting.

Any of y'all ever had a quail hen bring a batch of eggs to hatch?

One of my hens went broody on 12 eggs and hatched out 10 chicks. She raised them well. It was so sweet to watch.

 

[FenDruadin]

Thanks so much, y'all. We had a huge storm a day or two after I posted this, and the run got soaked. The hen was off the nest when I went to check on them in the morning, and did not return. I've since moved the tractor to a new spot, and she's begun digging a nest again, but there's no accumulation of eggs yet. I'll give her another chance if she tries again.