Breeder Rotation

[backyardquail]

I was told elsewhere in this forum that fertility rates drop as the birds age (which makes complete sense) and that for coturnix quail a year old is beginning to be a "little old", what type of breeder rotation are people using?  Do you change them out every 6, 8, 12 months?

I raise them for meat and eggs personally.  I grow them out to 7-8 weeks and into the freezer the go.  So I have no problem culling them as needed, just looking for a guideline on when to retire a breeder.

Thanks!

[cv]

bump

[backyardquail]

really?? nobody has information on this are at least an opinion?   

Got this from the Mississippi State University Extension Service - Poultry Science Department website

"For those who carry the same breeders over for 2, 3 or more years, close observation and culling should be carried out throughout each laying season. Using the same breeders for more than one laying season can lower egg production, fertility, and hatchability with weaker offspring, and less disease-resistant birds." (sounds like a single season is recommended)

"With small breeding operations it is often advisable to introduce unrelated breeder stock at least every third year to prevent inbreeding problems. You may exchange males with another breeder who has an unrelated strain, purchase new birds, or buy eggs and raise your own new blood line.

[cv]

Are they under lights laying all year long? I'd plan a fertility rate check and take it from there.

[backyardquail]

They are not under lights all year, I let them rest over winter although some keep laying.   

I appreciate the feedback, but what exactly is a "fertility rate check".  I googled it with no luck.  I assume you mean a check that the eggs being laid are still fertile and have a good hatch rate.  Not to dismiss the suggestion, but I have a small simple incubator and seem to get about 50% hatch no matter what I do.  I am looking for a simpler, less scientific, plan like every 4, 6, 12 months rotate in new breeders.

Here is what I am thinking.  I will retire my current breeders in the next couple of weeks, they are almost a year old.  I have a good group of week old quail in the brooder right now, from them I will overwinter some to become my spring breeders.  I plan to order some eggs in the spring to expand the blood line and merge these with the overwinter birds to be my 2012 seasonal breeders.  Next year same thing.  Thoughts?  Opinions?

[alan vallejo]

thats looks like a god plan, but mi concern is the 50% hatch.  do you control all the parameters in the incubator, at hatch time? and incubation periods?

humidity in hatch should be at no les than 60% depending the climate and altitude, y live in mexico city and is very hi in here so y acheve no lees than 75% for god hatch ratio(95%) the lower altitude the lees humidity you need. and for the first incubation period y usualy achive around 50% humidity. the temp is also important, y most be constant around 99.5 to 101 f. an at last turning eggs if you make it manualy you have to tur them at least 4 times a day.
hope these can help you
 

[cv]

Personally, I would expect a higher percentage of live hatch. On a 50 percent no hatch rate, I would crack eggs to check and see what's going on and what I may be doing wrong. Though I look no mater what the hatch rate is. There's plenty charts here on the forum and people to help you out. I would expect 60 to 65 percent or better after cannibialism and some culling. For me, if 50 percent of the eggs aren't fertile its time for a change.