Coturnix started laying at 8 months old...eggs not shiny like others.

[Trailerparkfarmer]

I was given 5 tibetans last fall, unknown sex at the time. Once february came around, i started seeing an egg a day and i was able to pick the female out of the bunch and put it in a pen with a male. The three remaining quail(assumed all male) were left in another pen for use at a later date as I build my flock. Well the other day one of those "males" started laying. This hen is about 8 months old. Is it unusual for a hen to take so long to begin laying? Also, the other hen lays shiny eggs and the 200 or so eggs I've purchased were all shiny. This hen is laying rough eggs with kind of a white cloudy layer on the shell. Anyone know what is causing that?

I tried posting a pic but I'm doing this from my phone and it wont let me. Hopefully somebody understands what I'm talking about. Thanks!

 

[underground chickenman]

I'm no quail expert, but I believe coturnix start laying at 6 to 8 weeks, but age is only one factor. Light and food also play a role. If they don't get at least 15 hours of light per day, they won't lay. A diet too low in protein and calcium can also affect laying.

I suspect light is the problem. If she hasn't been exposed to artificial light for the last 8 months, the days have probably been too short until just recently to stimulate laying.

UGCM

 

[crash0330]

Yeah it was probably that they werent getting enough light, and about the egg not being shiny, well I guess it all depends on the bird I got some eggs from JJMR and the're were a mix of shiny and the ones with the foggy layer.

 

[JJMR794]

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