Hold outs!

[Fishychix]

My quail are 7 weeks old going on 8 and I don’t have a single egg yet. I have 6, and at least 2 maybe 3 are definitely female with the same being true for the males. Any advice? They are in a 5x3x3 wire cage in our garage. It’s very mild in there, not too hot. They eat 26% protein gamebird starter with fresh water. They don’t seem to care for treats such as apples, carrots, rose of sharon, etc.

 

[muddy75]

are you giving them any supplemental light?? quail need 14-16 hours of daylight........lighting seems to be key especially for new layers IME

 

[Fishychix]

Yes, we leave the light on during the day.

 

[Nabiki]

Some hens take longer to start laying than others. I've had them start as early as 6 weeks on the dot and as late as 14 weeks. They need 14-16 hours of light, enough calcium, and low or no stress. If you have too many males (more than one per three to five hens), that will stress them. If they've been moved recently, that will stress them. If there are predators hanging around, etc.

 

[muddy75]

Some hens take longer to start laying than others. I've had them start as early as 6 weeks on the dot and as late as 14 weeks. They need 14-16 hours of light, enough calcium, and low or no stress. If you have too many males (more than one per three to five hens), that will stress them. If they've been moved recently, that will stress them. If there are predators hanging around, etc.

thanks @Nabiki i was typing regarding male:female ratio and got distracted by something “shiny”

 

[Fishychix]

I’m trying to find out how to give them calcium. Oyster shells seem too big(?). Also, do I give them calcium now or once they start laying? I can’t get a consensus about that with my chickens either. When do I change them from their starter to a lower protein food? I can’t leave the garage door open due to the flies so they have an LED bulb equivalent to 100w incandescent. They’re sharing their space with bunnies, in separate cages of course.

 

[Nabiki]

I’m trying to find out how to give them calcium. Oyster shells seem too big(?). Also, do I give them calcium now or once they start laying? I can’t get a consensus about that with my chickens either. When do I change them from their starter to a lower protein food? I can’t leave the garage door open due to the flies so they have an LED bulb equivalent to 100w incandescent. They’re sharing their space with bunnies, in separate cages of course.

You can crush the oyster shell (I have a stainless steel mortar and pestle) or you can give them crushed egg shell. Just offer them in a dish on the side and make sure the pieces are small enough for quail to eat comfortably.

 

[muddy75]

I’m trying to find out how to give them calcium. Oyster shells seem too big(?). Also, do I give them calcium now or once they start laying? I can’t get a consensus about that with my chickens either. When do I change them from their starter to a lower protein food? I can’t leave the garage door open due to the flies so they have an LED bulb equivalent to 100w incandescent. They’re sharing their space with bunnies, in separate cages of course.

you can switch to layer feed for hens @8-10 weeks and if enough calcium in the feed 3+% oyster shell is not necessary.....if you do give oyster shell, it needs to be finely ground because larger pieces can result in impacted crop

 

[Fishychix]

you can switch to layer feed for hens @8-10 weeks and if enough calcium in the feed 3+% oyster shell is not necessary.....if you do give oyster shell, it needs to be finely ground because larger pieces can result in impacted crop

How should I grind the oyster shell? I imagine my coffee grinder wouldn’t be up to snuff.

 

[muddy75]

How should I grind the oyster shell? I imagine my coffee grinder wouldn’t be up to snuff.

as nabiki stated, she uses a stainless steel mortar and pestle. i chose to stop using oyster shell after losing hens to impacted crop. i rarely have an issue with soft shells on my eggs as in my aviary setting, they will find and crush eggshell if they feel they need the extra calcium.