feeding Bobwhite Quail

[Alex961]

Hi everyone Sunday I got 5 "fight condition" Bobwhite Quail, 2 males and 3 females. I am have them for their eggs and I was wondering should they be already be laying eggs and how often do they lay eggs? Also what kind of food do I feed them?(Right now I am feeding them chicken feed). Also I am working on their coop it is almost finished and I have them in a wire rabbit cage. Thanks!

-Alex

 

[farrier!]

Don't you mean flight rather then fight?

Mine are not doing anything as far as laying so I am waiting until spring.

 

[Pavo Royale]

Keep reading old posts. This is not breeding season, although you can sometimes trick them into laying with artificial lights (bobs are more difficult that cotornix). Make sure that critters can not get to your birds through the wire cage. They can pull those feet through small mesh. Good luck.

 

[JJMR794]

farrier! :

Don't you mean flight rather then fight?

Mine are not doing anything as far as laying so I am waiting until spring.

ONCE BREEDING SEASON GETS HERE FIGHT WILL BE THE CORRECT CHOICE OF WORDS---LOL​

 

[kcravey]

Mine are inside with a light on them and still laying. I get about one egg a day with two hens. Im feeding mine game bird feed and greens from the garden.

 

[JJMR794]

Alex Put 'em Under Artificial Light For 14+ Hrs A Day And Try It--- Tho Many Will Not Lay This Way In The Bob White World, Some Will. Most Bobs Are Seasonal Breeders--- 1 Or 2 Clutches Per Year. 12-20 Or So Eggs Per Clutch Per Hen Is Average. The Season Will Start Very Late Spring And Again If You Get A 2nd Clutch In Very Late Summer/ Early Fall. As Far As Feed=== No Chicken Food, While Many Do Well On It Some Get Bowel Problems, And All Need More Protien Than Chicken Feed Provides For Optimum Health And Laying Ability--- Game Bird Feed Is Specifically Formulated For Them And Works Best--- Imo, The Higher The Proien The Better. The Only Feed I Use At This Time And Have Used For At Least A Year Is Purina Startrena Gamebird Starter 30% Protein. Thats All They Get For The Duration Of Their Lives Here And They Flourish On It!

Many Folks Will Say That They Are Fine On Chicken Feed--- Wrong. As I Said They Can Get Bowel Problems From It. And With Bobs They Are So Very Dependant On The Higher Protien For Max Egg Production. Quail In General Are Quite Finiky--- The Slightest Change Will Shut Down Egg Production--- Change To A Different Type Of Feed, A New Environment, Different Lights Etc... So They Can Be A Lil Tempermental About Their Environment. Also You May Want To Consider Seperating Them Into Smaller Groups--- Those 2 Boyz Are Goin To War When Mating Season Comes! I'd Seperate Them Into 1 Trio And 1 Pair And They Should Do Well Like That--- Small Wire Cages Work Well For These Smaller Groups Too