Girls gone broody

[Jus1]

So it's been said time and time again that jumbo coturnix quail do NOT go broody. Yet I have 4 girls leg banded because at any given time at least 1 is seen laying on the eggs. They are VERY devoted. In the pics I'll attach you can see a couple of stray eggs that got knocked around as the other came to help lay on them. The one closest to the wall got up just long enough to pull them back under her. She wouldn't even get up to eat the mealworms I was throwing around the pen until I put some inside with her. She ate and went right back to the eggs. This has been going on for 5 days now. My question is, what happens if we get babies? Will they care for them or do we have to intervene? Has anyone had hens go broody and bring babies to hatch?

 

[DK newbie]

There are posts about broody cots on here from time to time. How the mothers handle it if/when babies hatch seems to vary, so you'll have to keep an eye on them and keep a brooder ready if they are not up to the task.
If the enclosure is not suitable for chicks or some of the other quail are aggressive towards the chicks, you might need to move mom and babies to another enclosure.

 

[Jus1]

I have a house that none seem to stay in except the ones caring for the eggs. Could I maybe just add food and water in there and close off access from the rest? The sitting hens really aren't leaving anyway

 

[DK newbie]

I suppose you could. Though I'd probably wait at least another 5 days before doing anything - you don't want to scare them off the nest.

 

[Jus1]

I suppose you could. Though I'd probably wait at least another 5 days before doing anything - you don't want to scare them off the nest.

I was thinking of waiting until the 15th day, assuming they would hatch the same time they would if they were in an incubator. I was also concerned about how many eggs they are nesting on. It's a lot! I may have to move some to an incinerator

 

[Erkenstein]

Good luck. Most people who spot broody quail say that they quit after a while, so good that yours are brooding reliably. The question will be whether they can do it well enough to actually bring the babies to hatch. If you get a chance when they're off the nest you can candle a few and see what's going on.

 

[Jus1]

Good luck. Most people who spot broody quail say that they quit after a while, so good that yours are brooding reliably. The question will be whether they can do it well enough to actually bring the babies to hatch. If you get a chance when they're off the nest you can candle a few and see what's going on.

I did candle some last night as they have been on them for a little more than a week sold. Dark spots in the eggs maybe developing chicks, but o have no experience there. The issue is they apparently pull in other eggs girls leave in the house. There were over 30 eggs under 2 of them. We took half and brought in to our incubator. I hope they quit pulling eggs under them, they are never going to hatch right I think if they keep this up, but every day I go in, and several times per day...there is ALWAYS at least 1 laying on them. I have to place food in front of them and then they will eat. They surprisingly have stopped pecking at us and don't run away either

 

[lomine]

I recently had a male coturnix go broody. It was quite a sight. He was very good about sitting but left the nest early. I put them in the incubator and a couple days later they hatched. All but one hatched (if I remember right).

I think their environment makes a big difference. Mine, like yours, are on the ground. Mine made a nest in a straw filled shelter in the run. I just don't see a quail in a wire bottom cage going broody.

 

[Erkenstein]

I suggest you mark the "nest" eggs so that you can remove new eggs as they appear. That way they can concentrate on their one manageable clutch.

 

[BaJa]

I would make sure not one other quail can get in, and let them raise their chicks in there. It works best when they can just only concentrate on their chicks. While running around an aviary with that many chicks, some lose their focus on them and some chicks get lost. So, my advise, no other quail with them and leave them in there till the chicks are at least one week old, when they know their mom well and can care for themselves a little better. I've had broody quail, too.