First eggs :)

[wtylerj]

Hello all!!

I'm new to the quail world and have 2 golden females and brown male (coturnix). They are about 7 weeks old. I found 2 eggs in the hutch yesterday so assume both females laid one. How long before I can be sure the male is fertilizing them? I haven't seen any monkey business yet lol. Mind you he's kind of skittish when I approach.

thanks
Tyler

 

[Whittni]

You can start checking at any time. Take a flashlight and put it under the egg and look for what looks like a marble inside, after a few days in an incubator.

 

[Sycamore27]

I've seen it generally advised to wait a week or two after they start laying to let them sort things out before you start incubating them. A lot of early eggs will be abnormal while their body settles into egg production. A for if the mail is doing is thing... a cold beverage and lawn chair are handy tools for finding that out.

Cheers,
Jessie

 

[wtylerj]

The lawn chair and beer sounds like a novel idea lol. Thanks for the tips guys.

 

[Sycamore27]

The lawn chair and beer sounds like a novel idea lol. Thanks for the tips guys.

Heh, I can't take credit for that one, but it is a goodie.

Cheers,
Jessie

 

[Weirdness555]

You might want another couple of females, 2:1 in coturnix will result in bald hens, and potentially no eggs if they're too stressed. I'd recommend 4 - 7 hens to a male.

 

[yolka doodle]

Hi

I have 9 females and 1 male, he is always very busy doing his thing but today I noticed 1 of the females is chasing him and attacking him. He runs like mad to get away. Any ideas why she would be doing this? maybe he would not take no for an answer so she just lost it with him?

when she was attacking him she would then run to a hide out where they lay their eggs, could she be broody, protecting the eggs?

thank you

 

[coolmind1999]

maybe she is broody ... im no expert but I think the male either wanted some hanky panky and the hen was broody and not gonna cuz she dosent want more fkrtilzed egg or the male was trying to eat the eggs in many cases males eat the eggs or kill the chick to get the hen

 

[yolka doodle]

maybe she is broody ... im no expert but I think the male either wanted some hanky panky and the hen was broody and not gonna cuz she dosent want more fkrtilzed egg or the male was trying to eat the eggs in many cases males eat the eggs or kill the chick to get the hen

Thanks for the info. ill go and have a peek to see what's happening. It did make me laugh seeing him get chased for once. It is very hot here in England maybe the sun is getting to them a bit.

 

[coolmind1999]

hahaha