How to make them start laying?

[pringle]

Well I got a trio of coturnix quail on sunday.When I cme home on monday I was pleasantly suprised by an egg!So I thought I wouldent have to go through that adjusting period without eggs.But since monday I havent gotton any more eggs.Whats wrong?The owner kept hers in the basement and thats were im keeping mine but im going to move them out soon.I give them an extra 2-3 hours of light daily.I feed them a 22% gamebird feed is that to low?I tried giving them grass clippings they didnt touch them nor the lettuce.

 

[ChickyLaura]

I don't know if this would work for quail or not, but it sure worked for my chickens. I gave them a handful of kitten food for a few days and bam! They started laying like crazy. I read somewhere that it can start to "force" them to lay. I don't know if it's true or not, but it definitely worked for mine. Their combs got red within a few days, too. I very seldom give them ANY kitten food any more, because I know it's not good for their kidneys. Good luck!

 

[Buck Creek Chickens]

if an eggs is ready to be layed when they are moved you have one layed, but it rare, wait a week or so and you will get eggs again, to try to force them is not a good idea, you might end up with a few eggs then none

 

[jenjscott]

And you can expect a longer wait if you are going to move them again. Make all the changes you are going to make and then don't change anything else. They'll get back to laying.

 

[Doubletap]

I am currently in this same transition period. I had to change the birds food (now their on a 16% poultry laying mix) and their location. I know these birds love sameness will they get disturbed if I remove or add a pen mate?

 

[Doc Henry]

Quail don't like any change if you add birds they will probably pick on the new birds never just add one add a few if possible. Don't try to make your birds lay they will lay when they are comfortable. Once they start you will have plenty just don't move them once they start.

 

[JJMR794]

Quote:
This is a really bad idea... Not only will this NOT WORK, IT WILL BACKFIRE ON YOU. You CANNOT FORCE A GAMEBIRD INTO LAYING...

Coturnix love perpetual sameness. Change anything at all and they will make you pay--- "change my pen? BAD KEEPER! NO EGG FOR YOU!" "change my food? BAD KEEPER! NO EGG FOR YOU!" Now you just recently got the birds, so you have already changed their penmates, their food, their surrounding and pen--- WHATS THE PUNISHMENT? ----- THATS RIGHT___ "BAD KEEPER! NO EGG FOR YOU!"

Best way to handle this is to set them where they are going to be for good, in their permanent home and feed them whatever food your going to give them for the rest of their days...and wait! Set their routine then suck it up and take your punishment

Sooner or later they will start up again, they have to, these girls are the undefeated laying champions of the world--- capable of 300+ eggs a yr/ hen. That kind of avian power cant stay bottled up forever. Sooner or later she'll lay or burst! the moral of the story is get them set then leave it alone, it'll all work out in the end.

 

[worldling]

Quote:
This is a really bad idea... Not only will this NOT WORK, IT WILL BACKFIRE ON YOU. You CANNOT FORCE A GAMEBIRD INTO LAYING...

Coturnix love perpetual sameness. Change anything at all and they will make you pay--- "change my pen? BAD KEEPER! NO EGG FOR YOU!" "change my food? BAD KEEPER! NO EGG FOR YOU!" Now you just recently got the birds, so you have already changed their penmates, their food, their surrounding and pen--- WHATS THE PUNISHMENT? ----- THATS RIGHT___ "BAD KEEPER! NO EGG FOR YOU!"

Best way to handle this is to set them where they are going to be for good, in their permanent home and feed them whatever food your going to give them for the rest of their days...and wait! Set their routine then suck it up and take your punishment

Sooner or later they will start up again, they have to, these girls are the undefeated laying champions of the world--- capable of 300+ eggs a yr/ hen. That kind of avian power cant stay bottled up forever. Sooner or later she'll lay or burst! the moral of the story is get them set then leave it alone, it'll all work out in the end.

DITTO!
Coturnix are "LoPS". The sooner you get them settled in, the sooner you get eggs. Throwing this,that and the other thing at them is folly. Get them to the point of totally boring, then dial it down a few notches.

 

[Overeasyplz]

yep they are funny that way. They know what they like and they like seeing me walk up to the front of the pen, then to the back to open the hatch. I always give my customary "hey birds" and they instantly like whatever I do.. If I suprise them.. no egg for me. They sure hate anything out of routine