When will they start laying?

[Barred Rocker]

I've got some Northern Bobwhite Quail that are about 28 weeks old and they haven't layed yet. I've heard they usually start about 24 weeks or is that some other kind of quail? Could the cold weather be affecting them?

 

[Prettiest Frog]

Are they getting enough light?

 

[Barred Rocker]

Well, just what daylight provides. The front of their pen is open to daylight so it is well lit. Maybe it is a seasonal thing and when the days get longer they'll start laying.

 

[Prettiest Frog]

I don't get eggs unless they get at least 12 hours of decent light, though they are a little opinionated as to what they consider decent.

 

[JJMR794]

Quote:
they need 14+ hrs of light a day to produce eggs. some will lay under florescent, but many will not, only incandescent light. i have led lights for all other speces that work fine, but do not have any luck with my bobs under it...

 

[chickenma]

The bob whites are seasonal layers and I'm not sure if they will lay with extra light .
Mine stop laying while the cotournix is still laying with extra light.

 

[Prettiest Frog]

Quote:
I've had some keep laying, others stop. Same with the ducks. It is possible to keep some laying year round, but some have their little bird brains made up to stop on a particular date no matter what.

 

[JJMR794]

They certainly can be tempermental lil boogers....

 

[Mrs MIA]

My BWs are laying with the extra light, and temps in the 30s-low 40s in the coop. The outdoor ones are not laying right now, because they're cold and most of the light blocked with the tarp to keep the breeze off of them.