Sloped floors and fertility?

[SamG347]

Does anyone notice a decrease in fertility of their quail eggs when using sloped floors in your pens/cages? I doubt this would result in a big fertility drop but just wondering. But there must be something else going on with my birds. Might have to boost up to a lower male to female ratio.

Thanks!

 

[citalk2much]

That I would think could add to the problem. I hope you get it all under control soon I know how frustrating it can be

 

[monarc23]

Hmmm i never thought of that before I bet it would be an issue atleast to some extent. The roo has enough trouble with a hen that isnt willing to sit down so i can imagine. However hwen the hen is willing to sit down thenI dont see there being much of a prob

 

[bigjohn]

Are you concerned that the birds cannot breed correctly because of the slope of the floor or that the eggs rolling a good distance and hitting the wire 'stop' is a possible problem?

My floors in my battery cages are not as sloped as most so the eggs don't have a chance to break or be jarred like they might if it floor was sloped at the normal angle.

 

[Wolf-Kim]

Sam, could you be experiencing a fertility problem after moving your quail to a "new" sloped cage?

If they've only been moved onto a sloped cage, you may need to wait a few days or a week and test your fertility again. Maybe just like our other birds, they need an adjustment time?

I don't think that the rolling would affect the eggs, unless you have a pretty serious slope and a sudden stop, accidentally scrambling the eggs in question. As for the slope affecting the birds ability to breed... I have trouble seeing that, but I guess it is plausable.

If fertility is still low, I guess you can try upping your number of males, or even replacing them with younging more "vigorous" males.

-Kim

 

[SamG347]

Thanks for the advice Kim..noo I waited a good 1-2 weeks before trying to send out eggs...I sent out 3-4 batches of test eggs...Im going to be cracking open a bunch of eggs from each pen and see what the deal is here.