Why won't my quail lay eggs?

[quailheart]

I hatched 18 Northern Bobwhites last Spring so they are almost 1 year old. Aren't quail supposed to start laying eggs at 6-8 weeks? Because mine are older than that and they haven't laid any eggs yet. (They have around 14 hours of sunlight each day.)

 

[nchls school]

I have not raised Bob Whites, but I'm fairly sure they mature slower than cortunix and button quail that do lay between 6-8 weeks. The below is off the net when I asked the age and when they lay.

Bobwhite reach maturity at 16 weeks, but won't start laying until 21- 25 weeks of age. They can lay up to 100 eggs a year in the right environment and diet

 

[Pyxis]

Bobwhites mature more similarly to chickens, and don't start laying at 6 to 8 weeks like coturnix quail. They start laying around 22 weeks. Sometimes they will lay inconsistently starting at 18 weeks, but 22 to 25 weeks is more normal.

Also, it would appear from my reading that they lay best when they're getting 17 hours of light a day.

https://thepoultrysite.com/articles/bobwhite-quail-production-and-management-guide

 

[quailheart]

Thanks! I was getting there times mixed up with my coturnix. But 22 weeks is 5 months, so they still should have started laying by now, right?

 

[Pyxis]

Thanks! I was getting there times mixed up with my coturnix. But 22 weeks is 5 months, so they still should have started laying by now, right?

Have you had them on supplemental lighting? According to that article I linked, 17 hours a day of light is best to get them laying and keep them laying.

 

[quailheart]

No, I have not had them on supplemental lighting. They do not have any artificial lights.

 

[Quailobsessed]

My bobwhite hen didn't start laying until she was about 9-10 months old.

 

[quailheart]

Good to know. Thanks!