how to care for a broody coturnix ?

[JHaller]

I have a broody coturnix who is sitting on about 10 eggs in a tipped-over flower pot. She lives in a colony with 11 other adults, I think 4 males. I want her to be able to successfully hatch and raise the little ones. I don't know the best way to accomplish this.

1) Should she be separated from the flock while she is setting?
2) Should I let her keep the babies with the rest of colony?
3) Does she need privacy or is it better for her to be within sight/sound of her flock mates?

She went broody last fall, but abandoned her nest. I just let her stay where she was.

Any advice?

Thanks.

 

[TwoCrows]

Generally quail don't go broody for long and do abandon the nest. However once in a while a female can go broody and stay that way. But if she gets too disturbed, she is more likely to give up. You might want to separate her off from the others. However you can not move her. You will need to move the others. Or, if you make some sort of quick divider, (I assume they are in a pen, not any aviary) something that you can put up quick and easy. If you disturb her too much, she might abandon the nest. Give her enough room to come out and stretch her legs, dust bathe and feed and eat. It might be easier to move the others temporarily.

You will either want to brood them yourself or let her do it. But be careful if you let her do it, as quail don't always know how to brood babies. Do not let the adults get near the babies.

Good luck.