Author Topic: First quail eggs to hatch (Read 3635 times)

greengumbo · « **on:** May 02, 2015, 10:21:17 pm »

In-laws visited bearing gifts......24 quail eggs and an incubator

Never done this before but have read a wee bit. Any good sites other than this one that have good advice ?

They are in the incubator at 39'C and with one of the water trays full - RH holding at about 45%.

Seem okay ? Need to build a hutch for outdoors in the next few weeks.

Due to hatch on the same day the piggies arrive. Eventful day !

nutterly_uts · « **Reply #1 on:** May 03, 2015, 01:58:14 pm »

An aviary is better as they do like to boing upwards without much warning, and you do need to watch your numbers and ratios -the boys are sex pests and need plenty of ladies! I have a quail book that was a few £ and really useful, think its by Katie Thear but I'll have a look and update!

nutterly_uts · « **Reply #2 on:** May 03, 2015, 02:02:49 pm »

This is the book I have http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Keeping-Quail-A-Guide-to-Domestic-and-Commercial-Management-By-9780906137383-/301614498257?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item4639a001d1

in the hills · « **Reply #3 on:** May 03, 2015, 02:29:09 pm »

We have that book too. It's well worth the few pounds. Will tell you everything you need to know.

greengumbo · « **Reply #4 on:** May 04, 2015, 01:21:04 pm »

Ordered.

Thanks for the recommend.

doganjo · « **Reply #5 on:** May 04, 2015, 01:32:47 pm »

Just watch for rats. Lost all of mine a few months ago. Amazed at the tiny space they got through

greengumbo · « **Reply #6 on:** May 27, 2015, 11:41:29 am »

10 hatched out of 24 and 1 has succumbed since (was very poorly from day 1).

So 9 quails and they are ridiculously fast growing.

Need to make the quail hutch for outdoors soon I think.

Q · « **Reply #7 on:** May 27, 2015, 11:56:53 am »

Good luck with then - I'm Interested to see how you get on.

I gave mine up after the first hatch mainly because I didnt enjoy the eggs as much as I thought I would.
I also found they were all vicious little buggers and a bit smelly too.
I had to have a permanent isolation/recovery pen for the wounded.
I was surprised to find that none of mine lived longer than a year - they just dropped off their perches one by one - I thought at the time it may have been the cold weather but they were back indoors by then.

devonlady · « **Reply #8 on:** May 27, 2015, 12:59:43 pm »

A year is about a normal life span for the hens. The cocks last a bit longer. I love the male's "crow"

Lukey · « **Reply #9 on:** May 27, 2015, 09:28:22 pm »

I keep Japanese Quail for Eggs, They do occasionally fight, but when they do, the go for the kill! Luckily I have always found them before it's to late, I have 8 Hens and a cock, The hens one day layed 13 eggs between them, They are prolific layers, I'll give them that! we pickle the eggs with sliced onion and garlic because they lay so many.
Mine are two years old next month, and they still lay a egg a day most days. Good Luck with your adventure with quail!

Clansman · « **Reply #10 on:** June 22, 2015, 12:43:49 am »

A lot of my breeders are at least two years old, I know some are around 4.

I usually lose the odd hen to prolapse throughout their lives but I keep most for at least 18 months and never notice any huge increase in mortality, don't actually know what their natural lifespan would be.

As with many birds or animals, giving them too much space will see them become territorial and you will see a lot of serious damage being caused as they defend their territory and mates, females will do this as well as males.

For 9 birds you could easily keep them in a 3' x 2' pen.

With them being raised together the males should be ok together but separating birds in and out will not work long term, if one needs removed due to injury don't put it back in.