Not getting eggs

[Dan Clark]

I bought a rooster and 4 female contournix Hens to start my own home quail farm but I have only been getting one egg a day For the last week. How do I know if my hens are old enough to lay and when can I start expecting to get lots of eggs. The guy I bought them from didn’t know how old they were and when I asked when they would start laying he said next week its been almost 4 weeks.

 

[muddy75]

I bought a rooster and 4 female contournix Hens to start my own home quail farm but I have only been getting one egg a day For the last week. How do I know if my hens are old enough to lay and when can I start expecting to get lots of eggs. The guy I bought them from didn’t know how old they were and when I asked when they would start laying he said next week its been almost 4 weeks.

post pics and we can try to help with age and also look for any mistaken genders. what type of housing and feed are you using?? 14-16 hours of daylight is also key to maximum laying in quail. many quail tend to be delayed by a couple weeks with stress from changing environment as well if they were already laying or close to POL.

 

[Dan Clark]

Just got a second egg for today that’s a first and it was in the dust bath I just added To the outside area. Will they hold the egg if they don’t have a surface they like. And not lay one on wire if they don’t like wire. I know one is a rooster and rest hens. At night I chase them inside the inclosure because racoon was trying to get to them then I close the hatch to keep them inside. And the food in Purina wild game bird feed

 

[muddy75]

if you got a second egg today, chances are that they will all be laying soon......quail are very finicky and some are particular about where they lay while others will lay anywhere. if they are fairly new to you and have had additional stress of potential predators, it can all effect laying. you may also think about mixing lower protein layer feed in for transition

 

[Dan Clark]

I have the box divided in thirds one end is where I’ll put the rooster and like 3 hens so I get just fertilized eggs for the babies When I’m hatching. That way I’m almost positive that I’ll have fertilized eggs. the rest of the hens can lay in peace for me to eat eggs and grow fat for my dinner. Going to put 12-15 adult birds in the cage. Up to twenty when I have babies. Also want to add lights to extend laying season.

 

[Dan Clark]

Will they eventually get used to racoon since I’m having no luck catching them. Also will racoon a eventually give up?

 

[muddy75]

Will they eventually get used to racoon since I’m having no luck catching them. Also will racoon a eventually give up?

no, the raccoon will never give up and will continue stressing and trying to get the birds until successful. quail don’t have a “coop” instinct and trying to get them to go inside at night can also add stress. ideal male:female ratio is 1:5
personally, I would recommend predator removal by whatever means allowable in your area. (ie taking care of it yourself or calling in pest control)

 

[Dan Clark]

Been trying to catch this one but it keeps taking bait and getting away. at dusk I go and open hatch and they go inside the inclosure and at sunrise I open it up and they come out where food and water is. They have gotten used to it and now I don’t have to chase them in and out they do it automatically now. Maybe they don’t have instinct but they learned what to do when hatch is opened.

 

[muddy75]

Been trying to catch this one but it keeps taking bait and getting away. at dusk I go and open hatch and they go inside the inclosure and at sunrise I open it up and they come out where food and water is. They have gotten used to it and now I don’t have to chase them in and out they do it automatically now. Maybe they don’t have instinct but they learned what to do when hatch is opened.

that’s amazing that they’ve learned to go in at night! as far as the raccoon, we’ve never had an issue with them taking the bait and not getting caught. we have used cheap canned cat food mostly in the live trap and use vienna wieners in foothold traps for best results.

 

[Dan Clark]

the birds love to take baths and play in sand so when I open the hatch they run in to play you can hear them chirping and calling out. In morning I let them out and they run to food and water. If I leave hutch open they will eventually go back in. but I don’t think they will get enough sun if they go in all day. Think I’ll replace plywood wall with plastic so light can get inside.


When I start the chicks I’m going to try to teach them to go in when called instead of using a small broom to chase them in and out less stress. Also teach them to associate people with food so they won’t hide from me like these that I bought. These were super over breedEd now there feathers are full and growing back. The guy had way to many Roos and ratio was way off. Found where some people have trained bobs To tough green square for treats. so I’ll see if I can get them to go in for worms from my compost pile.