Recommendation on source for quail eggs?

[FatherFalcon]

Maybe some of the reasons quails lay fewer eggs in winter could be the reduced availability of light, fewer insects, seeds, and sources of calcium in the wild during colder months...

On one side, If you house your birds in a controlled, enclosed environment, you could provide a 20-hour light cycle to encourage egg production.

Offering a more natural light cycle on the other side to support healthier bloodlines.

Since my quails are reaching over 510 grams, I plan to establish eight breeding groups, each consisting of five hens and one rooster (40 hens, 8 roosters). Most likely, I'll maintain a natural light cycle in sync with the changing seasons so as not to stress the hens.

 

[pac]

Reduced light is what I read. Just like chickens.
Although my hens would give me an egg or two each week through winter. So maybe this is where the individual color (species?) might come into play that was mentioned?

For chickens, I read that they only have so many eggs in them, so increasing their winter production only burns them out sooner.
Not sure about quails.

But the source I spoke with said his younger quail just started producing. So maybe it's even age related.

 

[CliftonQuail]

Regarding burnout, quail are the same as chicken. Adding supplemental light in winter to get them to continue to lay decreases their lifespan.

As I mentioned before,I can't recall if MyShire uses supplemental light, or not. Being a large scale commercial operation, I suspect the answer is yes, but even with the extra light, the birds will naturally reduce laying a bit in winter.

Coturnix typically begin laying as early as 6 weeks old, but I typically wait until they've been laying for a couple of weeks before trying to incubate their eggs.