How long until new quail start laying?

[drewskimac]

Hello all - last thursday, I purchased some new coturnix quail. I purchased 5 hens; on the first day I had them, they laid two eggs. On the second day, four eggs were laid. Since then, I have not received a single egg. I am assuming this is simply due to stress from being in a new place - when can I expect them to start laying again?

thankyou!

 

[dpenning]

It can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks for them to settle down. Make sure you are feeding an appropriate feed as well. The days will start getting longer tomorrow. Mine have been on strike with the short days too. If the person you bought them from had them with artificial light they may have had some residual days of laying from that too. Just a bunch of thoughts around the issue. Good luck!

 

[purslanegarden]

What are you feeding them? More calcium type foods lets them lay more often, too, though I could definitely count your current situation as being a new environment for them to get used to, also.

 

[CacklingRanch]

Moving locations, like going to a new farm, can be very stressful on animals. They are out of their comfort zones in new territory. They likely laid their first few days because the eggs were already lain. It takes a long time for a hen (of any size) to make a hen. Stress, shortened daylight hours, illness, and poor diet can effect their laying cycles.

Likely the stress of the move has offset their cycle. If you brought them home a few days ago give them a little time to settle in.

What are you feeding them? What style cage are they in? Are they in a battery cage or in a larger cage? You mentioned 5 hens, are there any roosters? What’s the weather like?

There are many factors to weigh in here but more than likely you just need to give them time to settle.