Got my first egg! But outside of the coop :(

[MarijuanadoctorMiami]

Got 8 females and two males about 3 weeks ago. They would not lay, with 30% feed, lights on all the time, plenty of water and space. The seller says they were probably 2-3 months old. The quail got out today by mistake and I found her by a bushy plant and next to her was her egg.

Could I be doing something wrong that they don't want to lay inside the coop but would lay outside? Has anyone seen anything like it?

 

[feedman77]

Sometimes after a move it can stress the birds.

They may lay a few they have saved up. Then take a break from a few days to a few months. Depends on the birds freakout and stresses on their system.

My guess is it was her time to lay but she just happened to be outside the cage.

 

[007Sean]

Running the lights 24/7 can also stress them out. Kinda makes them go crazy.

 

[JaeG]

Moving to any new environment, and even cleaning them out, can cause them to temporarily stop laying. Were they laying before you brought them home? Some birds can be 12 weeks old before they even start to lay and that's in spring/summer. I had birds last year that I hatched in March (I'm in the southern hemisphere). It wasn't until this spring (around the end of August) that they matured.

Females do like privacy to lay their eggs so give them somewhere secluded in your enclosure and that's where you'll find the majority of eggs. A dust bathing area is also a good idea for them and that's always another popular place to lay eggs.

 

[sourland]

Lights should not be on to provide more than 12 to 14 hours of day light.

 

[MarijuanadoctorMiami]

I thought I read on another post to leave the lights on all day for greater egg production. Is 12-14 hours similar in egg production effect to a full day of light?

Great pointer about the privacy. Could anyone share privacy ideas/pics?

I suspect the one who sells them distributes them (among other animals) to santeria worhsippers for their animal sacrifice rituals in my city. As such, I asked them how old they were and he said they were always brought to him when they are 2-3 months old. He seems to have them for no longer than two weeks every time he gets them and he has never seen them lay. It seems people get them from him before he has had them longer than two weeks. So, they've had at least two moves by the time they got to my coop.

 

[JaeG]

An enclosed little house will provide some privacy and that's where I always found my eggs when my girls were in a big run on the ground. But then the rats started eating them through the 1/2 inch hardware cloth so I've had to move them to smaller, elevated cages. I hate rats! The rats had even had a go at chewing through the hardware cloth! They must've broken a tooth because they didn't get far and just decided to grab what they could where they could.

Anyway, even some foliage - some potted grass or ferns in a corner will encourage them to lay in one place and they do seem to create a communal nest. Sometimes the males will even encourage them to lay in a certain spot which is quite cute. They like straw to nest in too.

Sounds like they'll have a better (and longer) life with you than they otherwise would've. Hopefully they'll be paying their rent soon.

 

[MarijuanadoctorMiami]

An enclosed little house will provide some privacy and that's where I always found my eggs when my girls were in a big run on the ground. But then the rats started eating them through the 1/2 inch hardware cloth so I've had to move them to smaller, elevated cages. I hate rats! The rats had even had a go at chewing through the hardware cloth! They must've broken a tooth because they didn't get far and just decided to grab what they could where they could.

Anyway, even some foliage - some potted grass or ferns in a corner will encourage them to lay in one place and they do seem to create a communal nest. Sometimes the males will even encourage them to lay in a certain spot which is quite cute. They like straw to nest in too.

Sounds like they'll have a better (and longer) life with you than they otherwise would've. Hopefully they'll be paying their rent soon.

Ouch that's some mean rats

Thanks for the privacy ideas Jaeg

They paid me with two extra eggs this afternoon, inside the coop by the way!!

Yeah, their life now is quite a contrast from the fate of those who only live to be part of a sacrifice