Breeding Quails

[zena]

Hi all,
Does anyone know how many eggs one female quail has on average if they are 'good' eggs? I was just wandering because the two females I have, have eggs... The male escaped and I can't get another until next week. (Ill probably wait until these eggs hatch... If they do...)

[avinet]

A hen quail (?King Quail) generally lays from 6 to 10 eggs. All can be fertile eggs (I assume that is what you mean by "good" eggs) and generally eggs laid within a few days of last being mated by the male can be fertilized.

So if all the eggs have been laid before the cock escaped then they all can be fertile, and even if some were laid 4 or 5 days after he went, they can still be fertile.

Don't get a replacement cock until any chicks have hatched, and been separated from the two hens. Male quail can be unpredictable and are as likely to kill any young babies as not if you put him in with the babies and adult hens.

cheers,

Mike

[zena]

Yeah, I won't get another male until the chicks are independant and I've sold them. Sorry I forgot to put the type of quail, they are Jap quail, and I know that six of the eggs are fertile (I put "good" because i couldn't think of the word...) Also both the quail's lay their eggs in the same place, with the normal hen sitting on both her own eggs and the cinnamons eggs. Does this usually happen?

Thank you

[avinet]

Quail hens are very variable in their maternal instincts, with Jap Quail being usually very poor mothers. Finding one that will incubate her eggs is a bonus. If you do have a maternal hen then it isn't unusual for her to collect all the eggs in an aviary and try to incubate them all.

King Quail are on average better mothers but even with them maybe close to half won't incubate their eggs in an aviary.

cheers,

Mike

[zena]

How long does it take for Jap quail eggs to hatch? and how long before they can be seperated from thier parents? I've never had breeding quails before...

Thank you!

[avinet]

16 to 18 days is the normal incubation period. The babies are like day old chicks and are self sufficient from birth so can be separated from their parents immediately on hatching. However it is best to leave them with their mother as long as no aggression is taking place. That way they will learn some basic skills from their mother.

Chicks become fully feathered at 3 weeks, and adult size is reached in about 6 weeks, when they also become sexually mature - hens have been known to lay eggs by 2 months old.

Feed the babies budgie seed mix, chick stater crumbles and greens. Have a very shallow (no more than 1 cm deep) dish of drinking water available - if it is too deep the babies might drown in it. Also in an aviary it is best to restrict their movement by putting a barrier around their area - say a 1 metre square barrier made by nailing 4 of 1 metre long fence palings together. Once they are a week or two old the barrier can be removed.

Looking forward to the photos!

cheers,

Mike

[zena]

thanks, yeah i'll put up photos when i get some