When should I replace my layers?

[jeepster]

When should I retire my laying flock?

I am raising Coturnix and Bobwhites, all my birds are less than or just at 6 months old. I have not seen any reduction in eggs produced or the size of the eggs but I know that day will come. I was wondering what the egg laying expectancy of a quail is? And while I am thinking about it What is the life expectancy of a quail?

 

[Gretchen Nixon]

Hi Jeepster,
From what I have been reading the average life expectancy is only three years. I found this sad because I LOVE my quails. I only started in March and have three snowflakes, one coturnix and one bobwhite. I love your picture!
Gretchen

 

[jeepster]

Thank you Gretchen.
I read somewhere the three year number as well but when I went looking for it could not find it again. Have you read anything about the egg production over that time span?

That picture is of the first chicks that I incubated.

 

[dc3085]

Replace coturnix hens every year if you want to ensure you are retaining quality genetic material. They live on average 2 years (if you use lighting for winter production, without it they can live about 3 years) and when you think about that an 18 month old hen is well past middle age and not going to be passing off as high of quality genetic material as she did in her prime. If they are true jumbos (birds that actually make it to 14 ounces or more) you will want to replace them more often, heavy birds get more and more foot problems as they age. Some of my really big jumbos can't go longer than 6-8 months as breeders or they'll end up getting bumble foot (and then I can't eat them) so I replace large jumbos on a 6-8 month rotation.

Bobwhite hens you can go for a few years if you aren't forcing production with lights.