no eggs still

[mdees88]

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

I gotcha, lol. Do you know what the previous owner was feeding them? If it was a higher protein feed that could be part of the problem. They should lay on 20 though. I bought some 5-6 week old birds that never laid before and it took them around a month and half to start up. Even with everything setup right. Sometime it just takes some time I guess....

 

[mdees88]

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!!!

I don't know about that but I'm sure someone else will chime in....

 

[mdees88]

I will mention, around the 1 month with no eggs mark was when I added supplemental light that gave them light for 16 hours a day. It was a week or 2 after that when they started laying....

 

[Quailobsessed]

I got two quails (one male, one female) when they were two months old. The female was laying age, but didn't lay. About two months later, still no eggs, the male died. So I bought another male and female to put with my original girl. The new female was already laying, so she laid during the trip home. The next day, both females laid. They laid an egg every day and didn't stop until four months later, when one went broody.

I have heard that sometimes its good to put them with another laying female. Sometimes even putting eggs in their enclosure encourages them to lay. But I have had females with good laying conditions that still don't lay. In the end, laying is on their terms.

 

[Willowspirit]

I have three bobwhite hens and three Roos. They are fed game bird feed and are outside with a large run and a coop to use. They also have three hides. They are almost a year old and no eggs at all. ???

 

[mdees88]

I have three bobwhite hens and three Roos. They are fed game bird feed and are outside with a large run and a coop to use. They also have three hides. They are almost a year old and no eggs at all. ???

When did you hatch them? Bobwhites are not as prolific layers as coturnix and are slower maturing. They typically take 6 months of age before they start laying. From what I've read they typically start laying the following spring after they're hatched, as long as they are over 6 months old.

 

[quailmama 82012]

quail species are so interesting... who woulda thought that two different kinds of quail can be so different!!!

 

[feedman77]

I have hatched Bob's in January and they have started laying by july. Then quit in sept/oct.

Bob's are also usually paired breeders the hen chooses the Male to create a breeding pair. I have kept them in a trio and been fine. But over that females can get mean toward other females.

If they are all in the same pen remove a couple males or separate them into pairs . Maybe a 1 to 1 ratio is stressing the hens.

I have three bobwhite hens and three Roos. They are fed game bird feed and are outside with a large run and a coop to use. They also have three hides. They are almost a year old and no eggs at all. ???

 

[Willowspirit]

When did you hatch them? Bobwhites are not as prolific layers as coturnix and are slower maturing. They typically take 6 months of age before they start laying. From what I've read they typically start laying the following spring after they're hatched, as long as they are over 6 months old.

What you wrote is what I’ve been hoping. They hatched last April so I was hoping they would lay this Spring. So far, nothing. But it’s early yet. I’m not wildly invested in getting eggs but I am curious. Thank you for your answer!

 

[Willowspirit]

I have hatched Bob's in January and they have started laying by july. Then quit in sept/oct.

Bob's are also usually paired breeders the hen chooses the Male to create a breeding pair. I have kept them in a trio and been fine. But over that females can get mean toward other females.

If they are all in the same pen remove a couple males or separate them into pairs . Maybe a 1 to 1 ratio is stressing the hens.

I was wondering this as well. Do I just pick a male to leave in with them and see if the hens like him? They tend to all hang out together. For example, all of them will be in the same hide and then come piling out when I come to change their water or food.