how do you make quail lay eggs???

[Dannies]

I was told that my standard coturnix would be laying at 6 weeks and possibly some would start at 5 weeks. They were 7 weeks on Monday and definitely haven't started laying. I'm wondering if my cage is too dark? I don't want to cook them in the sun....

 

[dc3085]

Somebody gave you bad info. Some will start before time but 8 weeks or right around there is when they actually start up. Its pretty funny that these birds get to egg laying faster than any other bird with a consumable egg and people still have to fib and say it happens faster.

 

[Dannies]

I know, it's SUCH a short time, really! I'm being so impatient.

 

[Jkraft]

I purchased 2 Texas A & M quail 2 months ago. At first I kept them in the garage with a light on 24/7 until I got our outdoor coop built. I was told they were both females and the breeder could vent sex them on the spot if old enough. They are my first quail and I am learning as I go. So far I have only got 1 egg a day. Even after putting them outside I was still getting 1 egg a day. Why is 1 quail not laying? Is it a roo or too old?

 

[Gatewayto]

You can see to see if one of them is a male by listening to see if it make sound some what light rooster but lower tone:

Or you can try to vent them yourself:

Or you can just watch them for awhile to see if they try to mate one another:

The other one may not be laying because it is actually too young


Just notice this was an old posting.. most likely you already found the answer by now

 

[aviaryP]

I have 4 female and 1 male in a outdoor aviary . I live in south florida so the coldest it gets is 40°f at night. I have them in a 20% protein food and no crushed oyster shells. Maybe thats why they are not laying?

 

[Binki]

Are they getting at least 14 hours of sunlight a day? If not, that's likely the cause. I think without sufficient calcium (crushed oyster shell) they would still lay but not form proper shells or super thin ones

 

[aviaryP]

Their outside so as long as daylight is out they have sunlight

 

[txpeach100]

I received 10 courtnix quail for Christmas. They are in an outside pen. They have not laid an egg yet. I do have a question about the 14 hours of light a day. Where did this info come from? I live in Houston, Texas and we only have 1 month of sunlight at 14+ hours for the year. It's between early June to early July. I don't think the species would survive if they only laid eggs for 1 month each year.

Can someone name a reliable source for this info?

Thank you!

 

[Binki]

I received 10 courtnix quail for Christmas. They are in an outside pen.  They  have not laid an egg yet. I do have a question about the 14 hours of light a day. Where did this info come from? I live in Houston, Texas and we only have 1 month of sunlight at 14+ hours for the year. It's between early June to early July.  I don't think the species would survive if they only laid eggs for 1 month each year.

Can someone name a reliable source for this info?

Thank you!

http://cag.uconn.edu/ansci/ansci/extension/documents/LightingandGamebirdProductionDarreReviewA.pdf

The first sentence states ideal lighting, it's a really good article with rules for changing light during growth stages, etc.

It also talks about how close the light is and its intensity and different spectrums :O