I hatched out quail in September 2024 and they havent layed a single egg and the vents are tiny

[NickofromSouthFlorida]

I live in South Florida around Miami and I hatched out quail from a previous generation of mine in September of 2024. I have been giving them proper nutrition (Nutrena Layer and Oyster shell supplement) yet for some reason they have refused to lay a single egg.

I have tried many things, from putting some older laying quails to try to encourage them. To adding a supplemental light. To even contacting a vet which suggested I give them the Oyster Shells as a calcium supplement. I do not know what to do, last week the males in the bunch began to produce sperm and crow yet the others which I assume are females have small almost underdeveloped vents yet are a decent size.


If any professional breeders or vets can help me out I would so much appreciate it. I am honestly desperate and I really can use the help, I run a little business off these eggs and it’s the only money i make being in Highschool. Thank you for the time anyone takes in reading this thread I am honestly so desperate for anyones help.

 

[GodLovesU]

@Nabiki

 

[GodLovesU]

I just contacted someone who can help.

 

[Nabiki]

I just looked up the information on Nutrena Layer, and while it may be proper nutrition for chickens, it is not proper nutrition for quail. It is too low on protein, lysine, and methionine, and even fat. The only thing it has in proper amount is calcium, which means you shouldn't need to provide extra.

That being said, what is their housing like?
What kind of stresses to they have?
How many males do you have to how many females?
Do they have enough hiding places?
How much light per day do they have?

 

[NickofromSouthFlorida]

r

I just looked up the information on Nutrena Layer, and while it may be proper nutrition for chickens, it is not proper nutrition for quail. It is too low on protein, lysine, and methionine, and even fat. The only thing it has in proper amount is calcium, which means you shouldn't need to provide extra.

That being said, what is their housing like?
What kind of stresses to they have?
How many males do you have to how many females?
Do they have enough hiding places?
How much light per day do they have?

View attachment 4025590

I have them in a very convenient and low stress environment, I have the males and females together from the September generation and the ratio does not seem to be an issue based on the observation that i see no signs of over mounting or even any pecking from the males. They are in a bird cage that has more than enough space for them to roam and stretch and I dont really know what you mean by hiding places. I am running a business off the eggs so the layers are in battery cages that are LARGE and i keep the ratio 5 females to every 1 male.

 

[Nabiki]

1:5 is about the ideal ratio of males to females.
Quail are happier if they have places to hide and places to get their feet off of wire.

How much light per day are they getting? if they are getting at least 14 hours of light per day, I would start looking at other factors.

Are there any predators hanging around? Some quail are calmer than others, but predators hanging around, being moved, having a lot of chaos around them will stress them out.

I would definitely find a better feed for them. Here is an article that will help you choose a feed with proper nutrition for them.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/what-to-feed-your-quail.79205/

 

[NickofromSouthFlorida]

In Miami we are getting around 9 to 10 hours of light a day im pretty sure so I was told to get a supplemental light, I was wondering if anyone has a light they could recommend me because i am in need of a better quality one.


My quail are not moved so much and i only move them when one is injured or when im going to relocate them which is not often at all.


I am pretty sure there is not any predators around because i do have measures to rid of predators and prevent them.

 

[Nabiki]

It sounds like it's insufficient light, then. If they're only getting 9-10 hours of light per day, that's not enough. They need 14-16 hours of light per day. The light doesn't have to be anything fancy, just something you can see reasonably well by.

 

[NickofromSouthFlorida]

It sounds like it's insufficient light, then. If they're only getting 9-10 hours of light per day, that's not enough. They need 14-16 hours of light per day. The light doesn't have to be anything fancy, just something you can see reasonably well by.

Is there any reason their vents may be weirdly small? That is what has me the most anxious to find out.



The light factor confuses me aswell as the feed, reason being that my previous generation is currently laying and behaving normally and they are in the same area as my September generation. I can see the reason being those but then how would my older quail be laying when they get the same my younger quail get?

 

[Nabiki]

Their vents will be small until they start laying. Once they start laying, their vents stretch out.

In my experience, chicks that hatch during spring/summer will start to lay a lot sooner than chicks that hatch in fall/winter. I have a batch of celadons that hatched about the same time as yours and they have not started laying yet. I don't expect them to start until spring since I'm not providing extra light.