Are you searching for more information about how to get quails to lay eggs? If yes, you are in the right place. Actually, learning about how to get quails to lay eggs is very important because your quails can stop laying eggs sometimes.
Quails generally stop laying eggs for various reasons such as stress, minimum sunlight or lack of calcium. But there are almost nothing to worry about if your quails stop laying eggs.
If you are raising quails and spending money for feeding them good quality food, then it is very important to know about the ways of increasing their eggs production. Actually, increasing quail egg production is very important because quail eggs are nutritious and can provide valuable protein and vitamins to people.
More quail eggs mean more food for families, and more profits (if you sell eggs). By increasing quail eggs production, we can contribute to food security, improve nutrition, and support livelihoods in many communities throughout the world.
How to Get Quails to Lay Eggs?
There are some steps which can easily solve this problem. You can easily get your quails to lay eggs if you give them the proper care they need. However, here we are describing more about the steps of how to get quails to lay eggs.
Step 1: Determine Gender of Your Birds
First of all try to figure out the gender of your birds. You can easily separate male and female birds from the flock. Observing the behavior of the quails is a good way to separate male and female quails. Male quails generally tend to be more aggressive than the females. You can also look at the feathers of your birds. Most of the male quails generally have brighter feathers around the neck, head and back. But the female quails will generally have more plain colors.
Step 2: Give Time to the New Quails
Give some time to the quails to settle in, if they are new in your flock. The birds can get stress from all the new surroundings. Generally it can take up to 2-6 weeks for quails to settle in and start laying eggs. Although some quails can settle in straight away and start laying eggs just after 20 days of moving. So give the birds time to settle in.
Step 3: Provide Enough Space Per Bird
Enough space is also an important factor. Laying quails will generally require around 1 square foot floor space. If your birds don’t have enough space, then try to give them more space. Arranging more space will allow your birds to roam freely. But less space will result the birds to get stress from close confinement.
Step 4: Provide Calcium Rich Food
Calcium is very important for laying quails. You can mix crushed oyster shells in your quail’s diet. Oyster shells are generally high on calcium.
Step 5: Arrange Proper Lighting
Light is also very important for laying quails. So you have to give your birds access to light. You can either hang lights near their cage or move their cage to a sunny/light area. Lighting period has direct relation with egg production. Generally 14-16 hours of lighting period is required for the birds per day. Please don’t exceed this period, because your birds do need time to sleep and rest.
Step 6: Keep Your Birds Undisturbed
Try not to disturb your birds. Because quails generally require and prefer calm and quiet area. Such environment actually help to stimulate laying. And disturbing the laying birds can cause stress.
Step 7: Protect From Predators
Try to keep common predators away from your birds. Also keep your pet cat or dog out from the quails. Because your pet dog or cat can also disturb or scare the quails. This is also a reason for not laying eggs.
Step 8: Provide Some Straw or Hay
Adding some straw or hay to the cage will help your quails to lay eggs. Because some quails prefer to build nest for laying eggs. And some birds will lay eggs anywhere. But do not mess with or clean the cage a lot.Cleaning often will not only destroy their nests but also disturb them as well. It good to clean the cage once a week or once after every 2 weeks. But you can clean the feeder or waterer on a regular basis.
Best Tips For Increasing Quail Eggs Production
There are some simple steps you can take to increase your quail’s egg production. Here we are sharing some best tips for increasing your quail’s eggs production.
- Ensure your birds have a comfortable and secure place to live. Try to provide them with a clean and spacious coop with proper ventilation system. Quails thrive in environments with stable temperatures, so always try to keep their living area neither too hot nor too cold.
- Like many other farm animals, quails also need a balanced diet to stay healthy and productive (to lay plenty of eggs). Try to feed them with high-quality quail feed that is specifically formulated for their nutritional needs.
- Try to supplement their diet with calcium-rich foods like crushed eggshells or oyster shells. Doing this will help to support eggshell formation.
- Always try to provide fresh and clean water for your quails. Providing adequate fresh and clean water is essential for their overall health and egg production. Clean their waterer regularly and refill timely to prevent contamination.
- Laying quails require adequate lighting to stimulate egg production. Provide them about 14 to 16 hours of light per day to maximize eggs production. You can achieve this by using artificial lighting sources (such as LED bulbs or natural sunlight). Doing this will help to ensure consistent light exposure.
- Minimize stress factors in your quail’s environment to encourage optimal egg production.
- Avoid overcrowding in the coop, handle quails gently, and keep noise levels low. Provide them hiding spots or shelters to allow quails to retreat and feel safe.
- Try to collect quail eggs daily. Because leaving eggs in the nest for too long can prompt brooding behavior, leading to a decrease in egg production.
- Keep a close eye on your quail’s health and try to address any signs of illness or disease as early as possible.
- Try to inspect your quails on a regular basis for parasites, injuries, or abnormalities.
- Provide your birds appropriate medical care and consult a veterinarian if needed to ensure the well-being of your flock.
- Keep good ratio of male and female quails in your flock if you want them to breed and produce fertilized eggs.
Hope all the steps mentioned above about how to get quails to lay eggs and these tips will help your quails to lay more eggs. Good luck and may God bless you!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
People ask many questions about how to get quails to lay eggs. Here we are trying to list the most common questions about how to get quails to lay eggs, and trying to answer them. Hope you will find your answer. Don’t hesitate to ask us if you have more questions.
How long does it take a quail to lay eggs?
Generally it take about 7 weeks for a Coturnix quail to lay eggs. And a quail can lay around or up to 300 eggs per year.
How do you increase egg production in quail?
Feed the quails with high protein rich food for increasing egg production. A good diet for your quail should contain at least 18 percent protein, 2.75 percent calcium, 0.45 percent methionine and 0.65 percent phosphorous.
Do quails need males to lay eggs?
No, quails do not need males to lay eggs. Quails actually need males only if you want to have fertilized eggs for hatching purpose.
Do quails lay eggs everyday?
Yes, quails lay eggs everyday. And a quail generally lay around or up to 300 eggs per year.
Why are my quail not laying?
Quails generally stop laying eggs for various reasons such as stress, minimum sunlight or lack of calcium. But there are almost nothing to worry about if your quails stop laying eggs.
How many eggs can 1 quail lay in a day?
1 quail lay only one egg in a day.
How do you stimulate quail egg production?
Providing artificial daylight and high protein rich food will help to stimulate egg production.
How do you encourage quail to go broody?
If you want to encourage a quail to go broody, then put the quail in the cage in a protected spot of the free range area, and leave them caged up for a week.
Do quail need nesting boxes?
Yes, most of the domestic quails require nesting boxes for laying eggs.
What feed is best for laying quail?
You can feed your quails with commercial poultry feed for better eggs production.
Does heat affect quail laying eggs?
Yes, excessive heat and excessive cold temperature can reduce the production of eggs.
What causes delay in laying eggs?
Light, stress, poor nutrition, molt, age etc.
What breed of quail lay the most eggs?
Pharoah D1 is the largest and best egg producer. These quails can lay around or up to 300 eggs per year.
How long do quail eggs last after being laid?
Recommended storage time for quail eggs is around six weeks.
Do quails need sunlight to lay eggs?
Yes, most of the laying quails need between 14 and 16 hours of sunlight hours per day for laying eggs.