When will they start earning their keep? (Coturnix) *I GOT AN EGG!!*

[shelleyd2008]

My first jumbos didn't start till they were at least 9 weeks, but I think it was more like 10. In my second group there was one girl that didn't start until she was at least 12 weeks.
Pharaoh-sized birds seem to lay earlier, but 6 weeks is a bit soon to be 'expecting' eggs.

 

[quiltnchik]

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Yeah, I know. I guess I had just read on here (and everywhere else online) so often that "Coturnix start laying at six weeks" that I just got my hopes up. Ah well, they'll lay when they lay. I have seen the male mating them, so I'm hoping that's a precursor to having eggs sometime in the not too distant future

 

[shelleyd2008]

If the male has been mating them, you've got about a week

 

[monarc23]

^ I second this expect eggs soon

The hens tell the roos when they are ready (literally they do they have a call).

 

[quiltnchik]

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Awesome, thanks! I haven't heard the "egg call" yet, but I've seen him mating them (especially one little A&M female in particular), so I'll keep my eye out for eggs

 

[quiltnchik]

I went to breakfast with my daughter a couple hours ago and, when I got back, had to do water refills, etc. and decided, just for the heck of it, to check the nest box for eggs. I was just getting ready to close the door, when I saw something out of the corner of my eye and realized what it was an EGG! Yay!! I feel so giddy, you'd swear I just gave birth or something!

 

[chickenwhisperer123]

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Now you just need to start incubating!!

 

[quiltnchik]

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Do you think I should incubate any eggs I get this soon, or maybe wait a couple more weeks to make sure there's more chance they're fertile? Also, how long can I collect and keep eggs before having to stick them in the incubator?

 

[monarc23]

you can deffiantly incubate these first eggs as long as they aren't extremely tiny they will hatch

I incubate all my first hens eggs even the really small ones (though the really small ones dont have a full yolk so ofcourse dont develope lol)!

 

[quiltnchik]

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This one is normal size and has a perfect shell (no imperfections anywhere!), so maybe I'll keep it and throw it in the incubator once I get a few more. How long can I store them before they have to go in the 'bator? I really don't want to run it for 2 or 3 eggs!