Coturnix Quit Laying

[robidoux]

I'm new to the site, but have been raising quail for a little over a year. We had a thriving flock of 40ish birds that were all laying very faithfully. We had them in a small outbuilding under timed lights. We recently moved and a part of the move was harvesting all but a small breeding flock of 5 with the intent of rebuilding once we moved. The breeding flock was still laying consistently after the move up until we moved them outside into a hutch. The hutch is between 3-4 feet above the ground and inside of a secured fenced-in area so that coyotes and such wouldn't bother them. The weather here has turned a little, but nothing below 45 degrees over night. They're still getting 13-14 hours worth of natural light, but they have quit laying. I was getting 5-6 eggs a day, but now I haven't gotten a egg out of them in over a week. They're getting the same food and constant water. I added a wind barrier to the side that receives the most wind. Did I spoil them too much keeping them inside? Is there anything I can do to make them more comfortable outside so that they start laying? I know I'm not the only one keeping quail outside...what am I doing wrong?

 

[Double The Ducks]

I'm not a quail expert, but I did some research for you and found that your quails are most likely stressed from moving outside and are still adjusting to it. It could take 2-6 weeks for them to start laying again. If you lay some hay down on the floor of their hutch it might encourage them to lay, but that depends on whether or not your quails like to build nests. Also, how big is your hutch? Quails can get stressed and could stop laying if they have less than 1 square foot of space per quail.

 

[robidoux]

I'll give the hay a shot. I've got 5 (4 hens and 1 roo) in a cage that is 20"x36" which puts me at exactly 1 sq ft per bird. You don't think the roof over the hutch and a barrier on one side is cutting out too much light, do you?

 

[Double The Ducks]

I'll give the hay a shot. I've got 5 (4 hens and 1 roo) in a cage that is 20"x36" which puts me at exactly 1 sq ft per bird. You don't think the roof over the hutch and a barrier on one side is cutting out too much light, do you?

I'm sure that would be fine as long as they're getting 14-17 hours of light per day. If they aren't you might want to try hanging some lights near their hutch.