Do quail go broody?

[The Chickeneer]

All my females have started laying, and i was wondering if they can go broody and hatch their own eggs. They are coturnix quail. I have my incubator already full with duck eggs, and this is my first year with quail, so I don't know much about them. if they do go broody, how many eggs do they usually sit on? are they good mothers?Thanks

 

[LaceyNylons]

Hello there!

I have owned a male and female pair of button quail since 2011. Peep (the female) has been laying around 8 - 18 eggs and then attempting to incubate them. From what I have read, quail raised in captivity over multiple generations lose their broodiness, but sometimes people get lucky with their quail.

I have never seen my quail mate and as such don't believe that the eggs are fertilised (plus there was speculation for a while that Peep was a male due to a hormone imbalance ). She still sits on the eggs until I take them away. I usually give her 18 days with the eggs since she has laid the last one and attempts to incubate the clutch. Nothing ever hatches

It helps to have some nesting material around (I use hay and shredded paper) - Peep likes to make a little hole in the sand and then fill it with news paper. I keep water and food close so she never has to move far from the nest and try to disturb as little as possible. I laughed and laughed the other day because Peep had been a little creative with her nest making attempt! (see below)



Hopefully someone here with corturnix experience can help and shed some light on your situation

 

[TwoCrows]

Generally no...quail do not go broody. However, occasionally it does happen. Much of the broodiness and raising broods has been lost in quail and unlike chickens, don't get all excited to set on a clutch of eggs. BUT...there are folks on these forums that have had it happen. Don't hold your breath however. LOL

Your best luck to get it to happen is to give your quail the most natural environment you can give them, closest to their natural habitat along with a lot of privacy.

 

[The Chickeneer]

Thanks. I guess il have to buy another incubator or wait for a chicken to go broody

 

[fireflyhatchery]

I am one of those people who have had broody quail. I have dust bowls set up under heat lamps and the quail will go in and lay and then just lay right on the eggs and not move for more than some occasional water and food. If another quail tries to go in the bowl she will kick them out and go back to sitting. I have had this happen to 3 of my 50 quail out of only this hatch so it doesnt happen oftern but when it happens you will know it from the different behavior.

 

[nayeli]

I know I am late to the thread but firefly, the quail that went broody did they successfully hatch their eggs? Did they go broody again in the future?