So I adopted some quails...

[Justinaez]

About a week ago I adopted 9 coturnix quails. I was told that they lay eggs and they are all nice and good ... The guy that gave me the quails met me at the park and had them boxed up already and he just put the quails in the trunk and drove of thanking me.
Well the quails turned out to be missing a lot of feathers on their backs, they don't have a lot of appetite, but they do eat and drink water. They haven't layed any eggs at all. Anybody have any advice for me?
How do I get them to grow the feathers back and to start laying eggs?
I will post some pictures later...

 

[TwoCrows]

They probably need a good worming. Get them wormed. Feather loss can be either from mating or mites. Check them over and it wouldn't hurt to dust them with some Sevin powder. If they have mites, then they most likely have worms. And visa versa.

If they have either or both of these conditions you will not see eggs until they are healthy again.

 

[Justinaez]

Thank you so much for the information, I am trying to locate some sevin powder as well as diatomaceous earth, but here in LA nobady has any clue what I am talking about... As of a couple of days ago I started to put some wood ashes in the dust baths and they seem a lot happy already also they started to mate and they are eating more. I think that they were not well taken care of where I got them from, and the guy was just happy to get rid of them. I just want to make them healthy and happy so they can lay eggs for me

 

[Fat Daddy]

Any time you move a coturnix or make any big change in its life. It will stop laying. You didnt say how many roos were in the 9 you have. That could also be why some are missing feathers on the back of their head and neck. I would have no more than 2 roos in a colony of 9 birds... Any more will wear out the hens. Coturnix are far from "nice" to their hens.... Good luck with your birds. Bill

 

[Justinaez]

I have one roo for 8 hens. How long do you think it is going to take for them to start laying after moving. I am so desperate to see some eggs.

 

[Fat Daddy]

It really depends on the birds.... If they were in bad shape or have been laying non stop for a long time. They may molt before starting again. If this is the case it could be a few weeks or a month. But if they are young birds and in decent shape over all, and like their new surroundings, could be just a week or two strike. If you only have one roo for 8 hens, it sounds like they have been "together" for a while. Why I say that, is you mentioned the hens were bald. With that high of hen to roo ratio, it would take him a while to work them bald.... Once you start getting eggs again and start hatching, Your fertility may be just a bit low due to so many hens to one roo.... Good Luck, Bill