Quail fertility

[NysiaAnera]

Okay, I know people are hatching quail eggs right now, but everything I have been reading says they only lay fertile eggs from May to November. Is this accurate? Or will they actually lay them throughout the winter as well? I am getting some quail soon, and I want to be hatching eggs throughout the year, not just spring through fall.

 

[feedman77]

my guess those that are getting good egg laying now have them under lights.

mine went thru molt in Oct. Haven't laid since but I don't have them under any light source.

 

[NysiaAnera]

I hadn't even thought about molt cycles. Is it the same as with chickens?

 

[abot87]

Hi there.

Quail are capable of laying eggs throughout the year once the have matured - however they tend to stop laying once the temperature drops during the winter. This can be remedied with artificial heat sources, such as lamps and protective thermal cage/aviary covers.

Reasons that quail will stop laying eggs are:

1. Seasonal change.
2. Increased stress levels.
3. Molting cycle.
4. Poor nutrition.

As such, fertility isn't affected by the season, but rather by mating. If a cock properly mounts a hen he will transfer sperm into her cloaca. The sperm will make their way up her genital tract and the egg will be fertilized (provided the birds are fertile themselves).

Do take note that over-mating (usually if your gender ratios aren't sufficient) will lower your fertility rates. The foam that a male secretes isn't his sperm, but rather a aid to carry sperm from his cloaca into hers. It also help to neutralize the presence of another males sperm.

ABOT

 

[NysiaAnera]

Good information, thank you!

 

[jojackc]

Mine have been laying all winter so far. Once in awhile maybe 1 or 2 times a week I will only get three instead of four eggs from my four hens. I don't add any heat or additional light. My two guesses for this is this. One I live in Arizona so our cold isn't as cold as it could be getting. Two is I live in the city so there are some street lights in my neighborhood. Maybe this is enough extra light.