Egg ??

[Traceyrabbit]

Have just been to check for eggs, and found this in the run. The three female quails look ok, just sleepy in the afternoon sun. is it anything to be concerned about?

 

[Sunny-Side Up]

Maybe it's gone really, really bad??? (It's the green one you're taking about, right?) I don't own or know anything about quails.

 

[Traceyrabbit]

Maybe it's gone really, really bad??? (It's the green one you're taking about, right?) I don't own or know anything about quails.

Yes, the green one - I don't see how it could have gone bad - I check everyday for eggs and there wasn't time for that.

 

[DK newbie]

As long as it doesn't keep happening, it's okay. Sometimes things just get messed up. We had some kids visiting a few days ago and they were picking up my quail. Two days later I had no less than 3 soft shelled eggs (from 4 hens), so I'm pretty sure stress plays an important role. But if it keeps happening, the hen laying such eggs might have serious issues.

 

[Traceyrabbit]

As long as it doesn't keep happening, it's okay. Sometimes things just get messed up. We had some kids visiting a few days ago and they were picking up my quail. Two days later I had no less than 3 soft shelled eggs (from 4 hens), so I'm pretty sure stress plays an important role. But if it keeps happening, the hen laying such eggs might have serious issues.

Thank you for your advise! I'll keep an eye on her...

 

[Athena2344]

What kind of feed are you providing?

 

[Traceyrabbit]

What kind of feed are you providing?

I feed them quail breeder pellets (with 20% protein), and I mix in a handful of crushed oyster shells and some seeds. I also give them fresh greens and sweetcorn and mealworms. I'm wondering if I'm giving too many mealworms, or not enough oyster shell.

 

[Athena2344]

I think that they dont have enough protien. I feed mine half gamebird and half layer. The gamebird is 26% protien. I then provide oyster shell in a seperate dish. I occasionally give them live mealworms as treats, and they get grass, seeds and other bugs when i move them to a pen out in the yard to forage in while i clean out thier pens, most days i get 2-3 eggs out of my 3 hens

 

[Fishkeeper]

Don't mix oystershell in, give it separately so they can choose the amount.
Sometimes hens lay weird eggs. If it doesn't happen again, it's fine.

 

[Traceyrabbit]

Thank you everyone for your helpful advice. I've had normal eggs for the past few days (I have three females, but I only get two eggs per day), so hopefully it was just a one off. I have now increased the pellets to a higher protein ones and give the oyster shells in a separate dish. Thank you!