Quail not laying, is something wrong with my set up?

[nayeli]

Still not one egg and I have had them for 3-4 weeks. =/

 

[Hope It]

Still not one egg and I have had them for 3-4 weeks. =/

Mine (my first ever batch of texas A&Ms) are almost 7 weeks old now and they started laying a week ago right at 5.5 weeks, but not all. Got 4 eggs first day, 4 second day, then only 3, then 6, then 8, then 5 and 12 today!!

Pretty much, I had heat lamps in my cages due to cold weather over the last month, so they had 24-hour lighting. It was a necessary evil, because of freezing temps. But in general, I turn off the light during the day now, to allow them natural light and only extend to 16 hours if warm nights or keep on all night if cold nights.

Also, I read in your initial post that you feed and water them 3 times a day. Really, quail has to have constant access to food, they have to have food available 24/7, not just 3 times a day!! This might have been your issue, they are just not getting enough food, stressing due to hunger and stressed birst will NOT lay. I read that quail will only eat when they are hungry, so that's why they should be allowed free-will food access.

My roosters have been crowing since week 4, but eggs didn't come in till almost week 6, as I mentioned above, so not sure that crowing has anything to do with egg production. Just means males are getting sexually mature, which doesn't mean females are. Regardless, I separated all my roosters from the hens (per advise of a very knowledgeable member of this forum - dc3085) and now that they are not stressed out by the roosters trying to mount them all the time - the number of eggs doubled in a day. Not sure there is anything you can do about that, though, since you only have 1 cage, but figured I'd mention

Hope this is helpful!

 

[nayeli]

@Hope It I got them a feeder yesterday so they should have free access. I'm waiting a week then putting them out in our sunroom and at that point I'll be willing to take the risk of a predator since all they are doing is eating and pooping@!

 

[nayeli]

My bet is that despite my garage door having a row of windows they still aren't getting enough light in there. I guess I will be putting them outside soon and hoping a raccoon doesn't chew through my screening then rip the hardware cloth or door off their cage...

 

[davedavey]

Hey Nayeli I live in central washington and my quail are barely laying now and there 9 months old last year they laid like crazy. I had them in the shed over winter, and they kept laying. I moved them outside a month ago and most stopped laying. And still have not started. We are coming up on 13 1/2 hours light a day. So I am hoping all mine start laying soon.

 

[nayeli]

Mine are in the sunroom now so hoping for some eggs soon!

 

[nayeli]

STILL no eggs, and I feel like they have been in the sunroom for like a week... I think they are gonna be dinner real soon!

 

[idhound]

Where do you live? The farther you are from the equator the later in the year your birds will begin to lay. Idaho and montana for instance may not be laying just yet.

they are laying in Idaho I get 60+ eggs a day I would say look at feed. highest protein you can get is the best. You can add little calcium but for quail its the protein in the feed I feed at least 26% protein feed. also like previous comment some do start laying late. mine lay around 7-8 weeks. for my cots. other quail its up to 30 weeks. and if by some chance they have bobwhite crossed into them you looking at 25 weeks and yes some breeders cross bobwhites on their cots. because they can use them for field trial hunts and if they get away they wont reproduce in wild. but will lay and breed in captivity. so be patient and look at your feed. if you can get them into sunlight. mine are outside birds.

 

[foreverlearning]

they are laying in Idaho I get 60+ eggs a day I would say look at feed. highest protein you can get is the best. You can add little calcium but for quail its the protein in the feed I feed at least 26% protein feed. also like previous comment some do start laying late. mine lay around 7-8 weeks. for my cots. other quail its up to 30 weeks. and if by some chance they have bobwhite crossed into them you looking at 25 weeks and yes some breeders cross bobwhites on their cots. because they can use them for field trial hunts and if they get away they wont reproduce in wild. but will lay and breed in captivity. so be patient and look at your feed. if you can get them into sunlight. mine are outside birds.

I feed mine 20% for best results but I do live in a very hot and humid area. I found that they were getting too hot on the higher protein to lay regularly. Most people however find the best results in the 24-28% range.

 

[nayeli]

Mine are in a room that has screens on 3/4 sides, but they aren't in direct sunlight because I don't want them rained on etc.