Gambel Quail questions

[quailqueen53]

Howdy Y'all!! So I have about 30 gambel quail eggs coming to me in May or June to incubate. How long after hatching are the hens ready to lay? We've been raising corturnix quail for about a year and they start laying around 8 weeks. I tend to think that gambel are not going to be quite so quick. Any and all information is welcome for this newby gambel quail mom!! Thanks in advance!!

 

[snood dude]

Howdy Y'all!! So I have about 30 gambel quail eggs coming to me in May or June to incubate. How long after hatching are the hens ready to lay? We've been raising corturnix quail for about a year and they start laying around 8 weeks. I tend to think that gambel are not going to be quite so quick. Any and all information is welcome for this newby gambel quail mom!! Thanks in advance!!

They start at like 6 or 7 months but they won't lay till next spring.

 

[quailqueen53]

They start at like 6 or 7 months but they won't lay till next spring.

Thank you so much for the info. Who'd of thought there would be such a vast difference?

 

[007Sean]

The new world quail (Bobwhites, Gambels, Valley, Mountain, and Mearns) are 'seasonal' layers, they have a 'breeding season'....usually in the early spring to early summer.
So, if you hatch out some this spring, they will not lay until next spring.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Did you check to see if you needed permits? Certain places require them for almost all game birds

 

[quailqueen53]

Did you check to see if you needed permits? Certain places require them for almost all game birds

Yes, in Texas we need permits for Bobwhites but not the gambel.

 

[quailqueen53]

The new world quail (Bobwhites, Gambels, Valley, Mountain, and Mearns) are 'seasonal' layers, they have a 'breeding season'....usually in the early spring to early summer.
So, if you hatch out some this spring, they will not lay until next spring.

Well that’s a bit of a bummer. But what cha gonna do.... Thanks for the info though.

 

[Ram13]

I have had both bobs and gambels hatched in april/may lay in september/october.Not all will but you may see some eggs.Those i have had lay are birds i have kept outdoors in decent sized cages.Gambels are fun but very high strung.

 

[Chip76]

My gambel laid 58 eggs last spring/summer between April-July. At that time she was almost 11 months old. This year we got our first egg last week. She eats A LOT and makes HUGE messes when she's laying eggs. She can devour a cuddle bone in a week or two. Her favorite food during egg laying season is chia seeds (soak in water first). Her personality is also very different. Gambels are adorable and very high energy. Enjoy your babies!!

 

[007Sean]

Yes, in Texas we need permits for Bobwhites but not the gambel.

Yes, you do need a permit to raise or have in your possession Gambel's quail. Due to the fact , that there are wild populations in far West Texas.
also here's the link, it's in a PDF file, so I just copied it for your convenience.

http://www.google.com/url?q=https:/...FjAJegQICRAB&usg=AOvVaw2qdXH4_wXcqGeGR9E8yuQs

Copied from TP&W permit requirements for Game Bird Breeders.

Game Bird Breeders
Game Bird Breeder's License Required.
A license is required to possess game birds in captivity for the purpose of propagation or sale, or for selling
game bird eggs.
Game Birds Defined.
Wild Turkey Wild Partridge Wild Mourning Doves
Wild Ducks of all varieties Wild Bobwhite Quail Wild White-winged Doves
Wild Geese of all varieties Wild Scaled Quail Wild White-fronted Doves
Wild Brandt Wild Mearn's Quail Wild Snipe of all varieties
Wild Grouse Wild Gambel's Quail Wild Shore Birds of all varieties
Wild Prairie Chickens Wild Red-billed Pigeons Chachalaca
Wild Pheasant of all varieties Wild Band-tailed Pigeons
Wild Sandhill Cranes Wild Plover of all varieties
NOTE: Partridge and all species of pheasant, although not native to Texas, are defined by law as game birds.
This includes the chukar, Hungarian partridge, and francolin.
Game Bird Breeder's License Fees.
• Class 1 Commercial Game Bird Breeder's License entitles holder to possess in captivity more than 1000
game birds and the fee is $189.
• Class 2 Commercial Game Bird Breeder's License entitles holder to possess in captivity not more than
1000 game birds and the fee is $27.
• Either license is valid for selling game bird eggs.
Possession of a Game Bird or Part of a Game Bird.
• A person in possession of live game birds, game bird eggs, or parts of dead game birds (i.e., feathers, skin,
feet, etc.) purchased from a Commercial Game Bird Breeder or other legal source must furnish, upon
request of a game warden, a receipt showing:
o the name and street address of the person possessing live game birds, game bird eggs, or parts of
dead game birds;
o the name and street address of the source of live game birds, game bird eggs or parts of dead game
birds;
o the date of purchase; and
o the species and number of game birds, game bird eggs, or parts of dead game birds acquired.
• The holder of a Game Bird Breeder's License who offers the carcass of a pen-raised game bird for sale
may acquire a rubber stamp showing the identification number of the license holder.
• A person owning or operating a business where food is sold for consumption may sell dead pen-raised
game birds if the birds were obtained legally by both the supplier and receiver.
• Pen-reared game birds may be processed at any time.