New to quails-egglaying and beyond

[zanelee]

I received 5 quail (1m and 4 f)
They are laying. I dont' know a thing about how or what they do. Do they sit?
Any info would be appreciated. I want to make them as happy and comfortable as possible.
(These birds are basically pets, not food or anthing else)
TIA!
Jennifer

[kingwolf]

What do you mean they "sit?" do they lay on their eggs? or by sitting do you mean they rest? i think you are saying, do they rest and yes they do they will lay down but they do not literally "sit"b

[Reeves]

Depends on the pen they are kept in.
I also found they'll sit better in pairs.
At least for Bobwhites and Valley Quail.

You have ?

[zanelee]

Sorry, I guess I should have clarified. They are bobwhite, and I was meaning, do they sit on their eggs like chickens do? Or are they incubated under the materials in their nests?
Should I just pull the eggs? How would I know if they are fertile and possibly developing?
Thanks again!
Jennifer

[CharlieHorse]

Depends on the pen they are kept in.

 

zanelee.............What kind of pen are you talking about, inside/outdoors/demensions/desert/grass?  I believe that Reeves is talking about a large "outdoor pen" with one female and one male and also alot of privacy, etc., etc., etc.  A somewhat natural, private setting.

 If you want answers to your questions faster, you'll have to do alot of this... .  It's spring in most parts and everyone is busy. Including me.

 

[TENNESSERED]

Hello Jennifer,
    Hope you enjoy raising and keeping your quail.  As far as your questions go.  Bobwhites do not generally get broody in captivity.  On occassion you might have a hen  sit and hatch a clutch, but usually you will have to incubate the eggs.  If you have found a few in the pen (large or small) they could be fertile and if you have an incubator you can start incubating them.  In 5 to 7 days you can take a flashlight and candle them and you will see the chick starting to grow.  That is how you can tell if they are fertile.  If the egg is clear with no blood vessels they will not develop. 
      Bobwhites like a large pen.  I have a small covey that I have had for two years of eight birds.  They live in my pea fowl pen which is about 500 s.f.  They really love this because they have 12' of height and it gives them a chance to fly around as well as being on the ground where they can scratch in the dirt.  If you can't make them a large pen on the ground they can do very well in smaller pens.  For 5 birds a pen built 4 to six feet long and two foot wide and high will hold them nicely.  make sure you have a small woden box or plastic basin to hold dirt and sand for them to clean their feathers in.  Hope you enjoy your quail!

P.S.  for a special treat I save my old bread scraps.  My bobs love them!

[sam-e jo]

Hello I am new to bob whites to! I have a covey of 3 males and 8 females. Most of the time my bobs just lay there eggs were ever and don't sit on them, I read that they don't normally hatch them in captivity. I just put 26 eggs in the incubator yesterday, it will be my first batch of eggs I have gotten from them! I wish you lots of luck with your quail, I know you will enjoy them I do they are so funny to watch. My quails favorit treats are grapes and dandylions, I have tamed one of them and have her eating them from my hands,LOL.

[zanelee]

Thanks guys. That's kind of what I was thinking.
Their pen is outdoor with a covered area for element protection. It's about 10feet long and 5feet wide with an arch for the top (Maybe about 4feet high)
They have lots of areas for hiding and scratching. Thanks so much!
My kids have been feeding them any grubs and such that we find as we work our garden. They just love watching them go for the worm.

[Reeves]

Or are they incubated under the materials in their nests?

They are not Megapodes !   

[sam-e jo]

When I go to reptile shows I always pic them up a hundred meal worms.

[bobhunter]

Jen, Have ya got an incubator?

[bobhunter]

I've had a few bobs go broody and set on their own eggs over the years (under lean-tos) along the outer edge of some of the pens. This has been at end of season after I stopped gathering eggs.

[sam-e jo]

I have a very broody hen and one of the males will sit to. She is always sitting in the nest if there are eggs in there, I am thinking of leaving a few in there to see what happens.