coturnix quail parent size

[chickwatcher1]

I have some Coturnix Quail I hatched recently. My "jumbo" ones only weigh about 175 grams at 5 weeks, and Texas A&M are about 230 grans at 5 weeks. Do both parents need to be large for large offspring? Does jumbo female and large male make an average of the two? Or will the egg size be the better indicator of offspring size?

 

[Fishkeeper]

Egg size is not an indicator of adult size, and size is caused by many genes, not just a single one. If you breed two quail of different sizes, you'll probably get a mixture of sizes. Some may even be larger or smaller than both parents, due to recessive genes manifesting or new combinations of genes producing interesting results. Also due to random chance among individuals- if you breed two quail that weigh, say, 200 grams, their offspring will be a range of sizes, though with less difference than if you bred a 170g quail with a 200g quail.
Feed is also a notable factor in size, what are you giving them?

 

[chickwatcher1]

30% protein. And at 5 weeks using 26% locally milled stuff at $12 a sack. the Texas A&M eggs I got off ebay seem to be producing jumbos, however the "jumbo browns" may be headed towards 9 ounces. I am raising 9 JMF chicks also. I got those eggs too by mail and I think they may have gotten warm, since I only hatched 12/30. and 3 died. I'm planning to keep the larger ones to breed.