Coturnix life span/fertility

[cottontail farm]

My current group of coturnix quail are about 10 months old. These aren't pets but a breeding group I over-wintered. They live outside in a big rabbit hutch. The plan was to start hatching more this spring for meat/replacement birds but life happens and I don't see us having the free time any time soon.

My question is, how long to coturnix live and continue to lay with decent fertility? I had to cull a hen last week for a laying-related issue. From your experience is it practical to keep this little group and successfully hatch from them next spring? Or would you cull in the fall and order eggs to incubate next spring and start fresh?

 

[cottontail farm]

The cull was due to the fact that she was only laying every second or third day and the eggs were nearly the size of banty eggs - her health was deteriorating quickly from it - there wasn't any kind of disease issue.

 

[redranger209]

I read they lose fertility by their 2nd year, and they usually die at four or five.

 

[redranger209]

Correct me if I’m wrong.

 

[The Phantom]

Sounds about right

 

[DK newbie]

Fertility probably starts to go down before they are a year old, but you should still be able to get chicks from them when they are 2, possibly even 3. Just don't expect good hatch rates.

 

[JaeG]

Mine were still laying at 3 years old as well as they were in their first, but I always give them a winter break, otherwise they will burn out. Fertility was terrible though. A young male introduced to your girls should do the trick in that department though.

 

[cottontail farm]

Thanks everyone! It sounds like for best fertility I either need to make the time to hatch replacement birds this fall or plan on starting fresh in the spring. Thanks again for the advice.