Quail Living Space

[Cbabin03]

Hey guys.

Just recently got 31 jumbo cuturnix quail and they are now 7 weeks old. Still no eggs. So just curious as to if I have to many in the cages or what. I have three different cages. One is 4’ long by 2’ wide housing 2 males and 8 females. The other is 6 ft long by 2 ft wide housing 2 males and 9 hens. And the other is 2.5’ by 2.5’ and housing 2 males and 8 hens. Is this good or are they to crowded. I do notice them running around and jumping a lot of times. I have attached pics of two of the cages.

 

[JurassicBawk]

Depending on what you read, space requirements are 0.5-1 sq ft per bird. My hutches are 1.5x4 and I only keep 4 quail in them, because more than that and there are fights. I've got 7 males in a 4x4 pen with no issues. So to me your birds need more space, but mine are spoiled pets and I know many homesteading websites say that your set-up is just fine. The birds I hatched out last year didn't start laying until 7-8 weeks, so they may just be a bit slow.

Have you tried giving them any sand baths or hay to play in? Just a little box of sand for them to scratch around in might trigger them to lay. Mine are in deep bedding plus hay to hide out in, and make nest holes to lay their eggs in, even though they never brood and make new holes every other day or so.

 

[Cbabin03]

I’ve given them some hay, and I’ll try the sand out. I’m hoping there just a bit slow on eggs. Just didn’t really know if they were to crowded maybe or not. When I go out there they sure do a lot of jumping and running all over the place

 

[Plip]

Welcome to BYC, Cbabin! Glad you're here!

Those quail are not too crowded to lay eggs. I would argue that they're not too crowded at all, but there are absolutely quail out there that are more crowded than those that lay just fine.

Here are what I think are the two most likely reasons they aren't laying yet:

1. They just haven't matured yet. Yes, so start laying as early as six weeks, but it's not uncommon for them to be later than that. Seven weeks isn't time to be concerned.

2. They aren't getting enough light. In February in the northern hemisphere, the days just aren't long enough for the hens to lay. I notice a light bulb in your first photo. How many hours a day is it on? Some say 12 hours a day are necessary; others say 14 or 15. I use the higher number and know I'm covered. So either get a timer (that's what I do) or just make a point to turn the light on early in the morning and late enough at night, and they should start laying.

 

[Cbabin03]

Yeah I normally leave the lights on for a while. About 4 am in the mornings and then again I turn them on around 6 in the evenings and turn them off around 9:30. I’m hoping they just haven’t matured fully yet.

 

[Plip]

Sound like they're getting enough light, so I think it's probably just that -- that they haven't matured.

I've wondered from time to time if a young hen takes a little longer to get things working when she matures in colder weather. I generally find (with quail and chickens) that they never seem to start laying (whether it's warm or cold) when I think they ought to be ready. And then a week or two weeks or a month (with chickens) they finally kick in.

 

[Cbabin03]

Yeah hopefullyy in a week or two we will have some eggs to gather! Thanks!

 

[Cbabin03]

Could having them living under a tin roof lean too off my shed have anything to do with it since there technically not getting direct sunlight beamed onto them?

 

[JurassicBawk]

Mine are against my house, under a little overhang, facing East. They only get direct sun a few hours in the morning, but have been laying through the winter. (They were hatched out in mid May and started laying by mid July, and no breaks at all since then.) If you've got artificial light on them plus they get some daylight, I'd say they probably have enough and just need another week or so.

 

[JaeG]

How recently is recent? It's just that quail take awhile to adjust to a new environment which could explain why they are taking a little longer to start laying. Some birds take up to two (sometimes more) weeks to adjust to a new cage. Sometimes just cleaning them out can be enough to make them skip a day (though as they get older that's less of an issue). Quail start to lay between 6-12 weeks depending on their genetics and how quickly they mature. You also might want to consider having the supplementary light turn on early then letting them have a natural 'bedtime' as that may be another stressor - suddenly being plunged into darkness when they haven't had an opportunity to settle down where they want to sleep. Hopefully you'll be enjoying those eggs soon!