Quail gone broody for a second time - can I break her off? (Will she be broody again later?)

[dc3085]

In dilutes it can be hard to tell male from female as the spots normally present on the female are a very light tan. I highly doubt she will finish the eggs. When I have a hen sit eggs I let them (twice out hundreds birds) but have never had them go for more than 12-13 days before they get abandon the nest. Also she isn't covering the eggs the way a broody chicken or button quail would. They normally puff their feathers out to cover every egg and don't leave any for you to see. I have never heard of a coturnix hen that hatched her own eggs so good luck, but i would just let her go and see what happens.

 

[SeptemberQuail]

Milky tea! What a cute little name! If I ever hatch out another dilute, I'll definitely name one of them Milky! Hehe.

Oh, and she was definitely broody. The first picture I uploaded of her -- she WAS sitting on her eggs with her mate. It was just because when I opened the cage, she stood up because she normally expects some type of food treat or she was curious. She was puffed up and all. The second picture was her positioning herself to re-sit on the eggs.

The third picture of her was the first time she was broody, and she's all puffed up, trying to squeeze a dozen eggs under her, as well as the forth.

And I've already broken her off a while ago. I took her out to dust bathe (because she doesn't have one in her cage, I regularly take them out but during autumn I haven't as often) to clean the bedding and remove the eggs. When she came back with no eggs in the nest, she acted as if nothing happened.