Laying habits?

[tjd85]

Hi, I know quail don't need laying boxes and mine didn't used to lay anywhere specifically. However now, they've all started to lay in one corner of their coop and I find it very interesting and funny. Does anyone else's birds do anything similar?

Tim

 

[AOrchard]

Their mothering instincts might be kicking in. If you allow enough eggs to accumulate, you may even find one becomes broody...

Mine laid them all randomly for the first year, and then I didn't collect for a week over vacation, and all of the sudden they started laying them in certain areas, and basically building clutches. Seeing a pile of eggs seems to engage something in their little bird brain, which seeing a single egg or two doesn't. Once you get to 8 or 10 eggs in a pile that seems to trigger them. I introduced a nest box, and once I got it right (lining it with thin dead grasses seems to be preferred), they transitioned to the nest box on their own, broody instincts kicked in, and one of my hens raised some chicks for me! (The first time around she failed, the second time around she got it right).

 

[tjd85]

That's amazing that you got them to use a nest box and raise chicks What breed have you got? I may try this in the spring with my coturnix.

 

[BrandonsBirbs]

You may find one of the hen moves them, mine generally lay in their sandbox which is great because they're easy to dust the sand off.

I have one hen in each of my cages which will slowly move the other eggs into a pile and I assume they wish to become broody, unfortunately I don't allow them to due to fears.

 

[BrandonsBirbs]

Their mothering instincts might be kicking in. If you allow enough eggs to accumulate, you may even find one becomes broody...

Mine laid them all randomly for the first year, and then I didn't collect for a week over vacation, and all of the sudden they started laying them in certain areas, and basically building clutches. Seeing a pile of eggs seems to engage something in their little bird brain, which seeing a single egg or two doesn't. Once you get to 8 or 10 eggs in a pile that seems to trigger them. I introduced a nest box, and once I got it right (lining it with thin dead grasses seems to be preferred), they transitioned to the nest box on their own, broody instincts kicked in, and one of my hens raised some chicks for me! (The first time around she failed, the second time around she got it right).

Fantastic. I find putting a small layer of sand with woodchip on top really attracts them to lay somewhere too!

 

[007Sean]

I always have a few that lay anywhere, anytime they see fit....others that lay in a specific spot each time. I don't have nest boxes, just suitable landscaping to promote laying.

 

[WoDia]

Nest boxes…. a lost cause for my quail. They lay everywhere they want to. Sometimes, 2 or 3 will lay in one spot in a corner. It’s normal for me to find 3-4 eggs laid right in the doorway, so I’m always careful to look as I step.