When did your quail start laying?

[EvieChickenGirl]

Hi! My quail normally start laying around 6-9 weeks of age but this certain batch started laying eggs at 3 1/2 weeks old. Is this normal? When did your quail start laying?

 

[paddock36]

I don't have quail yet, but have been thinking about getting them. What type do you have?

 

[CliftonQuail]

The earliest I've had a coturnix start laying was at 5 1/2 weeks old. Two weeks earlier sounds crazy.

 

[Susan Skylark]

That sounds really weird, my first batch laid at 5 weeks on 30% protein starter and my birds now lay at 7 weeks on a 21% starter. Is it just one ridiculously early bird or an entire group? One bird could be a genetic fluke, an entire group would make me wonder about double checking hatch dates or supposed hatch dates (many times I lose track of time, especially dates like this!) or are you feeding some sort of experimental feed with50% protein? Curious to hear what’s going on!

 

[EvieChickenGirl]

I don't know. I have been feeding them the normal thing. I have fed all my quail this too. The only difference is this batch in particular was hatched by my bantam chicken. She hatched AND raised them until they were 2 weeks. I feed my quail 30% protein feed plus mealworms and live worms. The live in an outdoor aviary and are not different from my quail except for the fact that they were raised by a chicken. There is no inbreeding or SUPER breeding going on over here. so I have no idea. I'm a little worried cause they are a little smaller than my other quail but not by much....

 

[peafowl_Lover]

My coturnix quail started laying at 5 months old. I think it's because they were hatched late autumn.

 

[Susan Skylark]

I’ve seen a few heifers calve at a year meaning they get bred at 3 months, recommended age of first breeding is 15 months! It does happen but is pretty rare and probably kind hard on the preteen ladies. That’s interesting on the bantam raising them, must be a great mom, I’d be afraid to even try! As for autumn quail laying late, they are light induced layers so less than 10-14 hours of light and they’d not start until the days get longer.

 

[Nabiki]

The earliest I've had is just over 5 weeks. I haven't heard of any laying at 3.5 weeks before.

 

[Quailwhatdoyaknow]

That’s crazy! I bet the eggs are tiny

 

[EvieChickenGirl]

Yeah they are. I have several different aviaries, and this bunch is the weird group. 6 females and 1 male. I swear the male is a gal pal. He has no interest in mating the females even when he's 8 months older then them. I might put another male in and add the other one to the soup pot.