When do Bob white quail start breeding and laying?

[CoyoteMagic]

Quote:
ROFLMAO!!!!

 

[randyandmegs]

Farmertank was right on the weeks to maturity and laying. In the wild in North Carolina for example they start laying Mid May. Quail can be tricked into laying almost all year by adding artifical light to extend what they think is daylight hours. Quail laying cycles are triggered by daylight hours and not exactly based on the time of the year which normally go hand in hand but they can be fooled on how many hours of daylight there is with a timer and a light.

 

[rioriodog]

bobwhites will start laying at 16 weeks and like chickens if they have 14 hours of light they will lay every day. And like chickens with or with out males. I run a heat lamp for two reasons because I live in the up north. for heat and for laying. I have five males to four females . They naturally cubby together in the wild and the more dominate male will be the breeder of the cubby. Adding birds to a already established cubby may or may not work. If introduced correctly they could be . would suggest a fence between them at first due to new birds to the cubby are seen as a threat .

 

[gottomatoes]

Yes, I am finding this to be very true! Thank you! I am waiting anxiously........ any day now for my first egg!

 

[Tayten B]

who ever said the there should be 3 hens to one male is not true but whites when paired the hen will kill unpaired hens in defence so they dont steal her mate or take the males attention on breeding them instead of helping with their clutch. they starting lay at around 24 weeks. i got mine in early may and they started laying in early november

 

[Fat Daddy]

I have never know anyone to recommend a 3 to 1 ratio with bobs..... pairs is recommended, trios some times works depending on individual birds. Iv known one man to get community pens of 30 or more together with a 3 to 1 ratio to work.... Randal from Miss. was good at it.

 

[dc3085]

bobwhites will start laying at 16 weeks and like chickens if they have 14 hours of light they will lay every day. And like chickens with or with out males. I run a heat lamp for two reasons because I live in the up north. for heat and for laying. I have five males to four females . They naturally cubby together in the wild and the more dominate male will be the breeder of the cubby. Adding birds to a already established cubby may or may not work. If introduced correctly they could be . would suggest a fence between them at first due to new birds to the cubby are seen as a threat .

Bobwhites won't start laying until they are well past 20 weeks old, usually it's closer to 30 weeks. There is nothing you can do that will make a bobwhite lay daily. They normally only lay 100 eggs per year and only during breeding season. With the use of artificial lights you can push that up to 200 eggs per year, but you will need to let them rest for a couple months in between egg laying cycles.

 

[vent12]

I am in southeast Idaho and I would like 2 male bobwhites. Anyone going to the chicken palooza in Idaho Falls?

 

[Fat Daddy]

Don has told you true.... I live in Ks. There are wild northern Bob whites in my front yard most morning. Sometimes a single male sits on my Bob pen wooing my hens. Point of fact, Bobs DO NOT naturally covey in breeding season. They split and pair off.... All others will be chased and beaten by the mated pair.... Its actually quite the display. They covey back up in the fall. Adding lights to bobs will make them lay after they are closer to 6 months. Fertility will be poor when pushed with lights, and they wont lay year round like a chicken or coturnix.... When left natural , they will start in late April their first spring. Fertility will be scarey good and they will lay most every day for a few month.... Good luck with your birds.....

 

[Sunshineagh]

Hello Everyone! I'm from South Carolina. Can anyone tell me when my jumbo should start breeding and laying? They are 12 weeks old. Any knowledge is welcome. My husband and I are still learning, but doing so well. My cortunix are already laying! Yay!