Her Babies Aren't Even A Month Old And She's Gone Broody Again!(Button Quail)

[strawberricatt]

My Button quail hen TNT went broody. On October 4th she hatched six beautiful chicks. Sadly, one didn't make it, but with the love and care received from their parents, the rest have thrived. So, to the point: I went to feed them five days ago and noticed an egg on the floor of the tank. I picked it up and put in in their little loft. So TNT saw that as an opportunity to bring more chicks into the world... She has been laying an egg in her nest (Which is in the loft) everyday for the past four days. She now has five, and is doing what she did last time(preparing the nest)

Her mate, Rusty isn't very happy now that he has been left to raise the chicks. So, what do I do? Do I just let this play out? I've been told to leave the button chicks with TNT and Rusty until they turn 8 weeks old, but of she's going to hatch more, what do I do!? I'll have to buy a bigger tank or something, there is just not enough room for two clutches in their tank...
I plan on keeping two chicks when they're mature, separating them, and finding a mates for them.
So, has anyone had this happen before, I'm fine with TNT hatching more chicks, I'm just worried that it will put too much of a strain on her body...
Here's a cute pic of Rusty(the dad) with the babies when they were only a day old:

 

[karissapaul]

has she abandoned them?

 

[strawberricatt]

has she abandoned them?

Well, I'm not really sure... I mean, she still let's them snuggle underneath her, so I don't think so. her mate is sitting outside of the loft waiting for her to come out, it's a little sad honestly.

 

[karissapaul]

Well, I'm not really sure... I mean, she still let's them snuggle underneath her, so I don't think so. her mate is sitting outside of the loft waiting for her to come out, it's a little sad honestly.

well you should wait and see and if she leaves them then you should raise them yourself

 

[strawberricatt]

well you should wait and see and if she leaves them then you should raise them yourself

I suppose it's just a waiting game... My only worry is that if she does hatch more, she'll probably be aggressive to her already hatched ones. Her mate will probably raise them (with button quail both parents raise the young) but then again, he'll probably be protective of any new chicks as well.
@DK newbie
@JaeG
Have either of you had a 'double clutching' button quail?

 

[AlleysChicks]

I don’t know anything about quail but I’ve had a few chickens do this. They raise both groups together. Currently have a silkie with a 8 week old chick and a 2 week old chick. And had a Easter Egger with 2 different ages chicks also.

 

[JaeG]

They may help to raise the younger ones when they hatch. Hopefully they won't be viewed as a threat until they mature so there's a bit of time before that happens.

At a month old they are pretty independent, only needing warmth at night. I've had a young one help to raise her older sisters babies before but they were out in a big aviary.

Otherwise you'll have to set them up separately with a heat lamp for a couple more weeks, or when the next lot hatch they should be big enough to cope without their parents and could be moved to another cage. I've had to move 3 week old before because their father started plucking them. They were fine and just needed a heat lamp.

You may have to limit their daylight hours because otherwise TNT will just keep brooding and raising chicks, thinking that it's summertime. I'd limit them to 10 hours of light a day then darken the room as day length is the trigger for breeding.

 

[JaeG]

Forgot you were in NZ and the breeding season has only just begun! The only thing you could do to stop her constantly brooding is to separate her from her mate but that's no guarantee she'll stop laying and sitting. Just make sure she always has oyster shell grit when she's laying. They can breed like rabbits when you get a good pair!

 

[strawberricatt]

They may help to raise the younger ones when they hatch. Hopefully they won't be viewed as a threat until they mature so there's a bit of time before that happens.

At a month old they are pretty independent, only needing warmth at night. I've had a young one help to raise her older sisters babies before but they were out in a big aviary.

Otherwise you'll have to set them up separately with a heat lamp for a couple more weeks, or when the next lot hatch they should be big enough to cope without their parents and could be moved to another cage. I've had to move 3 week old before because their father started plucking them. They were fine and just needed a heat lamp.

You may have to limit their daylight hours because otherwise TNT will just keep brooding and raising chicks, thinking that it's summertime. I'd limit them to 10 hours of light a day then darken the room as day length is the trigger for breeding.

Thanks for the insight! How many clutches would it be safe for her too raise?(I don't want her to drain her body of calcium)
I'm hoping that the older chicks will be okay around the little ones, but I'll just wait and see. Her mate is currently sitting outside of the loft, and I occasionally see her head poke out from the loft, so she can pull the rest of the hay into her nest.
One of her babies is snuggled under her feathers at the moment, it's very sweet.

 

[strawberricatt]

Forgot you were in NZ and the breeding season has only just begun! The only thing you could do to stop her constantly brooding is to separate her from her mate but that's no guarantee she'll stop laying and sitting. Just make sure she always has oyster shell grit when she's laying. They can breed like rabbits when you get a good pair!

Okay, I'll buy some shell grit ASAP, thanks!