Quail lay eggs when they're darn well ready?

kcult · Wednesday at 4:28 PM

I have one batch of quail that will be eight weeks old Saturday. I know I have one Male and at least two females (coz I'm getting two eggs/day), but I don't know what the other birds are. The known Male is the only one crowing.

I'm not really learned on breeds, but I believe the Male is a pharaoh (?), then three tuxedos, and three A&Ms.

I don't assume any and all hens will start laying on the same day, but I'm curious if these different breeds naturally start at different ages. The same with males. I don't expect they will all stay crowing at the same time.

In the enclosure below them, I have one Male and two female tuxedos, and one female pharaoh. I've been getting two eggs each day from them, for about three weeks. I'm curious who is not laying.

cherrynberry · Wednesday at 4:44 PM

kcult said:
I'm not really learned on breeds, but I believe the Male is a pharaoh (?), then three tuxedos, and three A&Ms.

Your quails are likely coturnix quails, that's their breed. Pharoah just points to a specific color pattern.

kcult said:
I don't assume any and all hens will start laying on the same day, but I'm curious if these different breeds naturally start at different ages. The same with males. I don't expect they will all stay crowing at the same time.

There isn't a one size fits all for quails. They lay when they are ready and many variables can play a part. It can be at 6 weeks old or easily take more than 10 weeks. Different colors and patterns don't play a huge role in the ovulation cycle of quail, according to what I know.

kcult · Wednesday at 5:45 PM

cherrynberry said:
Your quails are likely coturnix quails, that's their breed. Pharoah just points to a specific color pattern.

There isn't a one size fits all for quails. They lay when they are ready and many variables can play a part. It can be at 6 weeks old or easily take more than 10 weeks. Different colors and patterns don't play a huge role in the ovulation cycle of quail, according to what I know.

Sweet.

Of course, as soon as I mention two eggs from the soon to be 8wk old birds, I got three today. Haha.

Thank you very much for the info!

Kiki · Wednesday at 5:51 PM

The breed is Coturnix.

The COLORS are what's different.
Tuxedo can not be sexed by looking at the colors on them. Neither can the white birds.

How many total birds are in the cage?

CovidtimeQuail · Thursday at 1:52 AM

Best I can tell, color doesn't seem to be a factor. My silver celadon took a full 15 weeks to lay eggs, her same colored offspring took 6 weeks.

Congrats on your first eggs. Enjoy your quail.

kcult · Thursday at 4:12 AM

Kiki said:
The breed is Coturnix.

The COLORS are what's different.
Tuxedo can not be sexed by looking at the colors on them. Neither can the white birds.

How many total birds are in the cage?

Thanks!

That was something I never clarified before getting into this. At the time, that info wasn't very important.

One cage has four birds, approximately 11 to 12wks old. The other cage has seven birds that will be eight weeks this Saturday.

Yesterday, I got three eggs from the ~8wk birds, and two from the oldest.

I think I'm understanding, now. They can start laying at or around the seven week mark, but don't be surprised if it takes 10 or more weeks.

Quail lay eggs when they're darn well ready?

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