Should I start expecting eggs soon?

[Quailwhatdoyaknow]

My quail are 7 weeks old this Saturday and I have read expect eggs between 6-10 weeks. They are still on their 28% protein starter grower feed. I plan on switching feed in a couple weeks to their adult feed. I’m not sure if the feed has anything to do with it. Right now I’m getting 12hr and 45 minutes of daylight. My Roo’s have not started crowing either.

 

[Susan Skylark]

I’d start transitioning to your maintenance diet, sudden feed changes aren’t a good idea, gradually mix in a higher percentage new feed with old over a couple weeks. The extra calcium in a layer diet will also be needed by your hens as they ramp up production. You should expect eggs anytime, usually small and every couple days for the first few weeks. Can be hard to wait!

 

[Quailwhatdoyaknow]

I’d start transitioning to your maintenance diet, sudden feed changes aren’t a good idea, gradually mix in a higher percentage new feed with old over a couple weeks. The extra calcium in a layer diet will also be needed by your hens as they ramp up production. You should expect eggs anytime, usually small and every couple days for the first few weeks. Can be hard to wait!

Thank you for the response! I was planning on mixing in the feed slowly and putting out some crushed oysters shells too.

 

[Nabiki]

They're not getting enough light yet. They need at least 14-16 hours of light per day to lay regularly. You might get an overachiever that starts to lay anyways, but I'd wait until they're getting enough light. I would start offering some calcium on the side now, though, so they have enough in their systems.

Your plan for transitioning their feed sounds good.

 

[Quailwhatdoyaknow]

They're not getting enough light yet. They need at least 14-16 hours of light per day to lay regularly. You might get an overachiever that starts to lay anyways, but I'd wait until they're getting enough light. I would start offering some calcium on the side now, though, so they have enough in their systems.

Your plan for transitioning their feed sounds good.

I have begun moving them over to their adult feed gradually and put a dish out of crushed oyster shells. I’m up to 13 hours and 16 minutes of daylight now. Saturday is 8 weeks old. It’s like Christmas while waiting on the first egg and first crow from the roo I have.

 

[Nabiki]

I have begun moving them over to their adult feed gradually and put a dish out of crushed oyster shells. I’m up to 13 hours and 16 minutes of daylight now. Saturday is 8 weeks old. It’s like Christmas while waiting on the first egg and first crow from the roo I have.

You should start getting eggs soon.

 

[Quailwhatdoyaknow]

You should start getting eggs soon.

So my Roo is not crowing yet at 8 weeks. Could this be because the other three are females and he hasn’t heard another one do it ? Or maybe because the hens have not started laying?

 

[Nabiki]

So my Roo is not crowing yet at 8 weeks. Could this be because the other three are females and he hasn’t heard another one do it ? Or maybe because the hens have not started laying?

No, the males need the light to start crowing and otherwise become sexually active.