Thinking about getting quail again...

[lowcountrypoultry]

I am thinking about getting some Coturnix quail again, but I always run into a problem here or there that takes down my numbers. As of right now I currently have 1 little month old coturnix.

They never lay eggs ethier, even when they are 10 months old! Could this be because I was feeding them normal chick starter and not turkey starter?

I thought it would be no different which one I fed them, and turkey starter is SOOO exspensive here, like $18 for 50lbs.

I dont own chickens anymore, only ducks, and rabbits, so I thought it would be a little easier for me to keep up with them.

Thanks for any suggestions!

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

We feed our breeders 16% chicken layer and they lay fine. The chick starter may not have enough calcium for them to lay?

Steve in NC

 

[kingmt]

I don't know about quail but for ny chickens I recycle the egg shells. I grind them in the blinder then run them through th microwave to clean them & my chickens love them but they won't hardly touch ouster shell anymore.

 

[HobokenChickenEmergency]

I just found this:

"Miller (1967) observed no difference in body weight or bone ash of quail up to 6 weeks of age as long as the diets contained 0.58% to 1.18% total phosphorus and 0.44% to 2.3% calcium. Lee and Shim (1971) found that 0.5% calcium was adequate for the growing quail and a level of 4.9% calcium retarded growth. Ong and Shim (1972) observed that growing as well as laying quail were in positive calcium balance as long as the diets contained 0.8%, 1.5%, 2.6% or 3.5% calcium. A level of 3.5% dietary calcium reduced hatchability. "

Apparently, too much calcium means eggshells that chicks can't get out of.

I use meatbird crumbles from Rural King. It's got between 1% and 1.5% calcium. According to the bag, it's for all gamebirds as well as turkeys and broilers, and you can feed it as a starter and for adults too. It was only $10.99 for a 40# bag, which is lasting forever.

It seems to be doing the job, because I got my 1st egg last night.

(Yes, this is like the 3rd post I mentioned that on. I'm bragging like I laid it myself.)

 

[kingmt]

Will they not regulate there intake of it depending on how much they need if it is offered by choice?

 

[citalk2much]

Hummm they should be laying odd. I am going to ask the silly question here are you sure you have a girl?

 

[sandyj]

I think quail typically start laying around 12 weeks. That's about when mine started. Maybe you have a boy????
sandyj

 

[magikchick]

Mine are 8 weeks old and no eggs yet. I do hear the boys starting to crow but haven't seen any signs of fooling around.