Button Quail and fake eggs

[gwboolean]

I like my little quail, but these little egg laying machines do pose some issues when you have them as pets. It turns out that hens always become a problem when they start laying eggs. These little girls can become fierce when they are sitting on eggs (interestingly, as soon as the eggs hatch they don't much care about the chicks).

Anyway, I have a hen that has reached the stage that all she wants to do is sit on eggs, and when they do that they become these really, really mean screeching harridans. I have had to isolate her (I do let her rooster have conjugal visits, but now he has become somewhat recalcitrant about that. Not that she cares.), and she is sitting on a set of fake eggs.

So here is my dilemma. What should one do when I take the eggs away? I intend to give her another week on them then my thoughts are to just take them, and the next box, and just give her a few days by herself to get over it. I tried this once before with another hen and the results were not optimal, or even close to it. Does anyone have any ideas about how to transition a hen off the eggs and get her through being pissed off at the whole world so she can move back into the general population (one other hen and my now recalcitrant rooster).

 

[Nabiki]

I have to admit, this is not an issue I've ever had to deal with. I collect the eggs daily. You might try taking an egg a day away until she doesn't have any left?

 

[gwboolean]

I have to admit, this is not an issue I've ever had to deal with. I collect the eggs daily. You might try taking an egg a day away until she doesn't have any left?

That is a thought. I always try to collect any eggs shortly after they lay.

The problem that keeps recurring is that overtime, the girls all really want to sit on a nest of eggs and that is when trouble starts. They get seriously aggressive and attack everything that pisses them off (which is everything), even me. Of course, pissing them off is a form of entertainment for me.

By the way, is there anyway to keep them from even laying eggs? I know that I can stop egg laying by shortening their daylight hours, but I really hate to do that. However, if this really bad temper continues at this level, I might even have to take that under consideration.

 

[vall]

Never had one myself, but you might want to check the chicken side of the forums regarding how to break a broody hen.

 

[gwboolean]

Thanks, I will do that.

 

[Nabiki]

That is a thought. I always try to collect any eggs shortly after they lay.

The problem that keeps recurring is that overtime, the girls all really want to sit on a nest of eggs and that is when trouble starts. They get seriously aggressive and attack everything that pisses them off (which is everything), even me. Of course, pissing them off is a form of entertainment for me.

By the way, is there anyway to keep them from even laying eggs? I know that I can stop egg laying by shortening their daylight hours, but I really hate to do that. However, if this really bad temper continues at this level, I might even have to take that under consideration.

If you reduce their hours of light, she may take a break from laying. Give her only 8-10 hours of light per day. I haven't tried that with my buttons, but it works with coturnix.