Button quail egg color and genes

[yellowherb]

I have 7 button hens and 7 roos. When they first started laying most of the eggs were dark brown. Now a month later the eggs are getting lighter colored, sort of a grey oliveish color. Is it normal for the hens eggs to change colors or could I be looking at a problem starting?

Also, out of 6 or 7 eggs daily roughtly half are fertile. I see loads of breeding going on in the aviary. Any idea why such a low fertility rate? I've cracked left overs and find they are mostly clears with a couple being late quitters or non pippers. Are there fatal genes like with coturnix golds?

Quail are being feed game bird starena on demand and scattered left over parakeet seed daily. And ground up crushed oyster shell on demand.

edit: colors include red breasted, darth vadars, grey and whites.

 

[GrandmaBird]

I have 7 button hens and 7 roos. When they first started laying most of the eggs were dark brown. Now a month later the eggs are getting lighter colored, sort of a grey oliveish color. Is it normal for the hens eggs to change colors or could I be looking at a problem starting? egg coloring is partly the hen and partly the diet, nothing to worry about, it can also changes with the seasons although not always.

Also, out of 6 or 7 eggs daily roughtly half are fertile. I see loads of breeding going on in the aviary. Any idea why such a low fertility rate? I've cracked left overs and find they are mostly clears with a couple being late quitters or non pippers. Are there fatal genes like with coturnix golds? How are you checking for fertility? Age of the birds?

Quail are being feed game bird starena on demand and scattered left over parakeet seed daily. And ground up crushed oyster shell on demand. Sounds okay but give them some fresh food, chopped fresh spinach, kale, parsley, broccoli, corn, peas, apples minus the skin and seeds, banana, orange just about anything fresh but no avocado. even a few mealworms per week or tiny crickets if you can handle the bugs. lol Hard boiled chicken or quail eggs smashed shell and all.

edit: colors include red breasted, darth vadars, grey and whites. Best of luck.

 

[yellowherb]

I forgot to mention I sprout kale and clover for them Today they got scrambled chicken eggs, I feed scrambled eggs to everyone a few times a week. And since someone *cough Gpop1* tossed my mealworm culture, I have been using dried meal worms.

I'm cracking eggs on non hatchers to check them. The quail are 3-4 months old.