VERY broody Cotournix quail

[Florence NightingQuail]

OK, I’ve thought it over and reckon the options are : place some big pebbles under her this week and sneak the eggs out. Next week, swap in the day’s fresh ones. This will delay the hatch date until we’re safely back. OR : we let nature take its course properly and hope that mum will feed the babies that hatch as should would in the wild. Return home and just see what awaits. ?

 

[Ebony Rose]

I'd think that she would learn a lot about motherhood if you simply allow her to do what nature has instructed her to do. If you take her eggs from her, the eggs would die (as you didn't say you'd place these into an incubator, for the same reasons you don't want her hatching them). If you let her hatch them and things go sideways, then they'd die. I think giving them the chance at life is better than ensuring that they don't have a chance. She may surprise you with tiny fuzzy squirts upon your return home.

 

[Florence NightingQuail]

Yeah, I’m leaning towards the same conclusion; if we’re going to see where this goes, let’s go the whole way. (And correct, I can’t put them in the incubator for same reason - timing). I guess we’re going completely au naturale then, and have to be ok with whatever results from the exercise!

 

[Florence NightingQuail]

There is one thing I’m confused about, upon reflection - will the mama just keep laying an extra egg every day to add to the pile she’s sitting on? Like, in nature, do quails just have an infinite growing number of eggs at various stages of development underneath them all the TIME?

 

[Florence NightingQuail]

OMG, there’s been another development - another hen is sharing incubation duties with the blonde. One moves off, the other moves on!

 

[Ebony Rose]

That's normal behavior for quail; Papa sometimes gives the Momma a rest too. While your hen is broody, she won't lay any eggs at all, and for some time after hatching this clutch she won't lay either. I'm so glad that you have decided to let her brood this clutch of eggs, it's so very hard on them to fruitlessly brood because they spend very little time taking care of themselves, spending their time on the clutch instead. Soon after your momma hen 'kicks the kids out', after a few weeks after hatching (in japanese coturnix quail terms, three weeks is 'young teenager'), she'll start laying again. Any 'extra' eggs found beneath her will be from your non-brooding hens.

 

[Florence NightingQuail]

Wow - this is quite fascinating! One last question; I have a bunch of tomato plants due to be transplanted into the vegetable bed that the open-ground quaviary currently sits on. The plan was to move the quaviary to my other empty bed. I‘m guessing that moving the nesting box that mama and eggs are currently occupying is totally off the agenda now?

 

[Quaicken108]

Wow - this is quite fascinating! One last question; I have a bunch of tomato plants due to be transplanted into the vegetable bed that the open-ground quaviary currently sits on. The plan was to move the quaviary to my other empty bed. I‘m guessing that moving the nesting box that mama and eggs are currently occupying is totally off the agenda now?

Yeah, I’d leave her be for now and make sure she’s all good! Btw I’m in Australia and know what you were talking about with the temps!

 

[Florence NightingQuail]

Oh yes, I forgot that you are a fellow Aussie! I get so used to talking to people in the upside down on here; I’m just thankful for all the info no matter where it comes from, I’d be lost without it!

 

[Ebony Rose]

As difficult as it is to get a broody quail, I'd not disturb her in any way.