no eggs still

[quailmama 82012]

So I got some quail from a local source and they did have a rather stress full trip, but its been two weeks and i still have no eggs. he even gave us some of they eggs they laid that day when he gave them too us.
i don't know if its a problem with lighting, but if it is its gonna be another two weeks or so because the grass seeds have to grow before we move them outside. i have been leaving the garage door open to let some light in, but its not direct light. when the garage door isn't open, its not very bright but there is windows and i try to leave the lights on.
if its a problem with food, i have them on a wild game bird feed with 1.5% calcium and 30% protein and i try to put some treats in there. I put a little grass seeds in there and they have a couple apple slices and grass shavings and spinach. (there's only like two leaves of spinach and only a little grass and apples, and they don't seem so interested in them, anyway.) No need to say but i always have clean water in there.
I don't know what it could be . i try to keep it clean in there and not mess with em because most of them are so darn skittish. does anyone have any suggestions? i'd love to hear any advice
(4 hens, 2 roos)

 

[mdees88]

It can take quail a while to start laying again once moved. Mine took almost a month, a few took over a month. It's better to buy them at 3-4weeks of age if you can, before they've ever started laying. But yours will eventually start laying again.

What kind of quail?

If coturnix, 4 hens and 2 roos is not a good ratio and will likely lead to overbreeding and/or fighting. 4 hens to 1 roo is a very good ratio.

They need light so I would leave the garage light on 16 hours per day for a while.

The 30% protien is perfect.

 

[quailmama 82012]

thanks!
it is coturnix, and i did want only four or five hens but he gave us another roo. i don't want to cull him though and i haven't seen much fighting. I think the cage is large enough that it might be okay, but if you have an idea i'd love to hear it.
i dont know if i can get that much light, even outside, but they will have at least 12 ish hours of light, is that enough/ will i need to supplement?

 

[mdees88]

You can try and see if 12 is enough. 14-16 is ideal.

 

[Madi131]

You can try and see if 12 is enough. 14-16 is ideal.

We got our quail nearly 6 weeks ago this Thursday and we still don't get any eggs. We got them when they were 5-6 weeks old already but not laying. We have 9 females and 2 roos.

 

[mdees88]

We got our quail nearly 6 weeks ago this Thursday and we still don't get any eggs. We got them when they were 5-6 weeks old already but not laying. We have 9 females and 2 roos.

What feed and how much light?

 

[Madi131]

What feed and how much light?

All flock along with whatever they find in the grass. Some corn occasionally. They have light whenever the suns out, they have a pen with a house in it.

 

[mdees88]

If "flock along with whatever they find in the grass" means you're not feeding them a high protein chick starter, then that is almost certainly the reason they are not laying. They need at a minimum 20% protein feed. 24-30% is much more ideal.

 

[Madi131]

No, the all flock feed is 20% protein. It's a game bird all flock I buy at buchiets.

 

[quailmama 82012]

i do have another question, if thats alright. One of my roos is five weeks old, (the other ones are older) and he is pretty scraggly, as in, ruffled feathers and two symmetrical bald patches on the tips of his wings. i haven't had sand in there for 5 maybe 6 days and figured it was probably good to add some sand for him to wash himself with. i hope its not anything serious, is it?
thanks for answering all of my numerous questions!!!