Author Topic: quails laying in the winter months (Read 2222 times)

dr241000 · « **on:** January 12, 2016, 05:46:34 pm »

Hi accidental smallholders,

I currently keep 12 Japanese quail, (2 males + 10 females) which stopped laying through the winter. Is this caused because of lack of light or not enough heat?

I hope you can help.

landroverroy · « **Reply #1 on:** January 12, 2016, 06:44:41 pm »

The weather's not been particularly cold; so unless you're keeping them in the fridge, or not feeding them adequately it's more likely to be shortened day length.

in the hills · « **Reply #2 on:** January 13, 2016, 05:26:46 pm »

Quail are very seasonal layers. Ours usually stop laying in mid- late September and start again at Easer time.

As you say, it is due to day length and temperature. Guessing that if you wanted to keep them in lay you would need artificial lighting .... as some people use to keep hens in lay. I just let mine have their rest.

This year for us has been a little different. Ours continued to lay into November and started again a couple of weeks ago! Assuming due to a very mild autumn and December and assuming they will now stop again now as it has just started to snow!