Egg laying advice... Please

[nparcher24]

I am new to raising quail, so I need a little help. I've been reading through the forums about this and I feel like I've done everything I can do. Here is my situation:

Here is my coop:

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I modeled it after a coop I saw on YouTube. It has 1/2" mesh flooring and sides of chicken wire. I use a round chicken water feeder, and a small feeder. I add a small amount of electrolytes to their water as it is starting to heat up around here. I feed wild game bird crumbles mixed with some chicken laying mash and a little oyster shell (I don't think they eat it thought). I supplement the daylight for a total of 16 hours of light and I try my best to leave them alone.

I have 7 females with two males on the top. 3 females and 1 male are 9+ weeks old. The others 5 are 5 weeks old. I've had the older ones for five weeks and haven't got a single egg. I'm wondering if I'm doing everything right. Does anyone have any suggestions? Or should I just practice some patience.

 

[Quailsong]

I don't have quail yet but here are my humble thoughts.

If you can, try to have the crushed oyster shell in its own container. This may make it easier to see how much they're actually consuming.

Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) is a great thing to put in water. You can add 1tsp per every gallon. You can also Ferment Feed in ACV & they will eat it up like it's candy. Beekissed on the BYC has some incredible posts going on about the FF and her results with an organic, non-medicated way of raising chickens.

In your picture, it doesn't look like they have a place to hide or rest from the hard mesh bottom. Might be good to get or make a little cover for them (even adding in fake grasses/vines if you want). And a small area (like a board, though softer ground is always nice for emotional health) for them to rest their feet on a while.

I assume the clear tub is the dust bin? Wood ash & sand are also great to add to it.

Lastly, about your protective chicken wire. I'd personally feel uncomfortable with anything bigger than 1/2" wire. Raccoons can easily reach inside the type of chicken wire you have and pull off quail's heads. Snakes can also easily go into that type of wire and there are some types of mink (I believe) that can fit in 1" wire gaps.

Also, chicken wire is very thin - a big dog or fox could rip into that wire pretty easily. Not trying to scare you, just hoping you'll take the precautions before you end up with a nightmare.