Is my quail broody?

[quailmama 82012]

I kept a few to see if they would be broody like the mother, but lost them all to storms that flooded the yard and pens.

how unfortunate. i am sorry about that

 

[Quailobsessed]

I had one who went broody on 12 eggs, hatched out 10 and raised them well. Quite a few died for a few reasons (two were killed by rats), but the survivors are still with their mum today.

She was living in a trio, so few days into the brood, she attacked the male and other female. Once the chicks grew up, I tried to put her back in her trio, but she wanted nothing to do with them. She wanted her daughters instead. So, I moved out her son, and kept her with her girls. She has hated males ever since.

The male and other female (not the mum) from the trio were from a breeder who naturally broods all her quails. It's amazing the way she does it. I believe that quails are more likely to go broody if they were raised by their parents.

Watching quails raise their own is a wonderful experience. It's sad that it has been mostly bred out of them. I think we need more people who naturally brood them.

 

[quailmama 82012]

Watching quails raise their own is a wonderful experience. It's sad that it has been mostly bred out of them. I think we need more people who naturally brood them.

absolutely. i totally agree. when i have more of an opportunity i will try harder to stimulate a natural enclosure.

 

[annasurbanfarm]

Just jumping on to say thanks for this question and post! I have 4 females and 2 males in a 7x3' coop and run, with pine shavings as the base and a few little 'hideouts' so it's a bit more natural feeling. I have one quail who seems to be broody as well, I'm debating if I should let her sit a few or not.

 

[quailmama 82012]

awesome. keep us posted on what you decide.

 

[quailmama 82012]

just figured out that whoever sold us our quail gave us another male. we are probably going to have to cull 2. thanks dude. and who knows if he was lying and we only have one female. i am going to buy an incubator and hopefully will get more females.

 

[Quailobsessed]

Just jumping on to say thanks for this question and post! I have 4 females and 2 males in a 7x3' coop and run, with pine shavings as the base and a few little 'hideouts' so it's a bit more natural feeling. I have one quail who seems to be broody as well, I'm debating if I should let her sit a few or not.

If she is broody, I would let her sit. If she hatches and raises them, great! If she rejects the eggs, you can put them in the incubator to finish.