Not sure about quails, specifically, but I can tell you that chickens AND Guinea hens will collect a clutch of eggs and when they are ready or feel there are enough to bother with, will set. If they start setting immediately and more eggs are added, there would be multiple hatch dates……..not good. Ideally, they all hatch within a day or two of each other.
The embryos don’t start developing until they are warm enough. (around 101 degrees for chickens) so if they aren’t set on, they are viable for awhile. I have kept eggs in a carton on the kitchen counter, rotating twice daily, for two weeks, while gathering enough and then putting into the incubator. I have had a good hatch rate, but I do need to start dating them to see if there is any correlation to “duds” vs more aged eggs.
It also seems fair to say that the other quail may very well try to kill the chicks. (buttons?) I know the chickens have killed guinea keets when given the chance.
As much as I love these feathered friends, they can be very brutal!
Laura
Laura Roberts
R Half Pint Farm
From:
Sent: Thursday, April 26, 2012 9:24 PM
To:
Subject: [CHICKENS-101] [OT] Quail Questions
Hi guys, This is a bit off-topic but I'm having trouble finding current info on quail-keeping. If anyone can help I'd sure appreciate it.
Issue #1
The bobwhites have started pairing up and laying. I noticed a nest in a quiet corner of the coop. Every day there's been a new egg or two(?) added to the nest. There are currently 8 or so. There's a male guarding the nest but I have yet to see either a male or female actually sitting on the eggs. Is that normal? Last night, I went into the coop and watched as quail took their regular spots for the night, leaving the eggs/nest unattended. It was in the 50s-60s overnight. Shall I assume that the eggs are no longer viable and collect them?
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Issue #2
I have more male quail than females and now that it's spring there's been a lot of sparring and all of the birds are starting to look a little ratty. As they pair up, should I move the pairs out of the main coop and into brooding pens? Has anyone had luck getting quail to incubate and raise young this way?
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Issue #3
If, by the grace of God, any of these eggs were to hatch, I know that the chickens would likely kill and eat the young. Do I also need to worry about the male quail? If so, both the "father" and the other males?
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One of the bobwhite hens lays her eggs in the nesting box with the hens and I've caught her incubating the hen's eggs, which looks pretty odd. :)
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THANKS in advance,
LQ in
CHICKENS-101@yahoogroups.com
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