questions about broody quail

[Kel60]

So my girls got 6 eggs in her nest. She is actively going back to it to lay them and is fussing with it constantly. But while the male will periodically go sit on the eggs for a few minutes before getting bored with it, she has yet to sit on them for more then a few minutes at a time.

Neither of them sleeps in the nest either. Although I did catch a fantastic moment of them both cuddled up on the nest together. Sadly didnt get a pick, cutest shit you've ever seen


So my questions then.

1. Is there a certain number of eggs a hen likes to have before she commits to incubating? Like will she wait till shes got 10+ or something?

2. Is it normal that the male seems so invested? I swear this little guy is SO ready to be a dad. He fusses with the eggs more then her it seems and even sits on them a bit

3. What kind if hatch rate should I expect from naturally incubated eggs? My only other experience was ebay eggs and that was solidly 50%

4. Is she going to go off incubating If I go in there to clean and such? Obviously dont touch the nest. But the temporary pen is in my room. Cant have it getting stinky.

 

[Quailobsessed]

That's exiting to hear about your quail! I've had a lot of quails go broody many times and it's always exiting to watch.

1. Japanese quails have a clutch size of about 6-12 eggs, so she may collect a few more before incubating them.

2. I have some very invested males. This is a great sign to see, because they male plays an important role in raising the chicks. Some of my males even shared the incubation with their female.

3. It really depends on the genes of the parents and how well they incubate them. I had a hen sit on 12 eggs and hatch out 10. I've had a range of hatch rates with king quails too. One had 100% hatch rate, but another had very low hatch rates (1-3 chicks per clutch of 6-8 eggs), not because she was a bad sitter but because of poor genes.

4. This depends on the temperament of you quails. I've had different reactions from different quails when I approach their nest.

Hope this helps.

 

[Quailguy728]

It was my understanding that coturnix quail very solemnly go broody. (Hence my crazy off grid incubator for quail eggs, haha!)

This is amazing to hear! they must be very comfortable! i would recommend disturbing them as little as possible! Good luck! Hoping for good results for you!

That's exiting to hear about your quail! I've had a lot of quails go broody many times and it's always exiting to watch.

1. Japanese quails have a clutch size of about 6-12 eggs, so she may collect a few more before incubating them.

2. I have some very invested males. This is a great sign to see, because they male plays an important role in raising the chicks. Some of my males even shared the incubation with their female.

3. It really depends on the genes of the parents and how well they incubate them. I had a hen sit on 12 eggs and hatch out 10. I've had a range of hatch rates with king quails too. One had 100% hatch rate, but another had very low hatch rates (1-3 chicks per clutch of 6-8 eggs), not because she was a bad sitter but because of poor genes.

4. This depends on the temperament of you quails. I've had different reactions from different quails when I approach their nest.

Hope this helps.

Do you happen to have a thread or anything on this hatch? Very happy to hear that healthy quails in good housing will consider brooding. (also probably has some genetics playing a role i imagine)

 

[Kel60]

Do you happen to have a thread or anything on this hatch? Very happy to hear that healthy quails in good housing will consider b

I can certainly start one and keep everyone updated on their progress! I'll put it together in a bit and post the start. It is a lot of fun to have them nesting