Before we get to when they stop laying, lets talk about when quail start laying and why they might stop.
When do quail start laying eggs?
Unlike most poultry, Coturnix quail will mature quickly at 6-8 weeks. They will begin laying eggs during that time and are typically in full production during the 8th week.
Given normal lighting, good feed, and fresh water they can be expected to lay 200+ eggs that first year. That is a lot of fresh eggs depending on how may laying hens you keep! The egg they lay is smaller than chickens or ducks, so plan accordingly.
Hens do NOT need a rooster to lay eggs. They will lay unfertilized eggs without a male present.
I have noticed with newly hatched quail, that once one of them starts laying it seems to trigger it for the others in the flock over the course of a couple of days.
Why might quail stop laying eggs?
Even during that first highly productive year there are several things that can slow or stop layers.
Change in feed or too low of a protein percentage. 20% plus.
When changing feed type or brand there can be a change in egg laying while the birds adapt. This typically doesn’t last more than a week.
If it continues longer, I would look at your feed to make sure it has at least 20% protein. Feeding a higher percentage is better. Also, that it contains other minerals and calcium needed for egg laying. A good game bird feed should meet all these requirements.
Stress – moving locations or coops, temperature, predators, molting
Any kind of stress can stop a hen from laying. If they are moved or the living quarters are changed, this will cause them to stop, but only for about a week. If only quail could be kept free range.
Molting is when the birds lose old feathers and grow new ones, usually in preparation for winter. During this time their bodies are using all available nutrients to grow feathers and it will curtail egg laying until the new feathers are grown out.
Extreme hot or cold temperatures will cause them to stop laying until they either adjust or temperatures return to normal.
Predator harassment can stop hens from laying. Even in an urban backyard there are raccoons, dogs, and cats that can cause problems. While a strong predator proof coop or cage is a requirement, it will not stop the predators from harassing and trying to get at the quail in your absence. Raising quail requires vigilance against these problems.
Season of the year and reduced daylight hours
As fall progresses into winter the day light hours will diminish. This will trigger the quail to stop laying, just as it would in the wild. No eggs are typically laid during this time.
While it is only mildly controversial for most quail farmers, you can provide artificial light (12-14 hours a day) during this time to force the birds to continue laying.
See my post on Do coturnix quail lay eggs in the winter?
Disease
Not enough time to discuss quail diseases here, but if they are sick they become unproductive. If all the above items have been addressed and your quail are still not laying I would consider disease to be the problem and act appropriately.
When do quail stop laying eggs?
Starting with the second year, quail egg production begins to decline. How quickly this declines happens can be affected by whether or not you kept them laying all year with artificial lighting or not. Giving a winter break the decline with be less dramatic, like from daily eggs the first year to 5 – 6 per week the second year. Each quail is born with a finite number of eggs and when those are gone, she will stop laying.
All things considered they can continue to lay eggs as long as they live, just at a diminished rate with each passing year. Domestic quail average about 3-5 years of life expectancy if you allow them normal lighting and winters between laying seasons.
Quail farming can be a lot of work, but worth it in the end.
Describe free range bob whites for me.
Can it be done?
Can the covey be trained to roost?
Can it be done in the winters we have had here in northern Westchester?
Thanks,
Chuck
First let me say I do not raise bob whites, there are too many restrictions on them where I live since they are considered native.
In general, no quail can not be trained to free range. See my post about free ranging options for quail.
I have hatch quail for others a couple times but never keep them over a week. What type of house do they need and space food would I need. I had good hatches. Just need more information
I would recommend starting with my post on How to easily raise day old quail chicks to maturity
I have 2 quails/male n female. She’s been laying egg per day and is now up to 27 eggs, my question will she end up sitting on the eggs or not? And how many eggs will be the total she lays??
Depends on the type of quail, but most domesticated quail will not sit on their eggs. You will need an incubator if you want to hatch any chicks.
Regarding how many, again depends on the type of quail. Jumbo brown quail lay around 270-300 a year.
Hey I just got start my pharaoh quail late for a couple of weeks and then stopped we didn’t change food and we have tin up against the side to where they can’t see dogs coons or possums or nothing.between the 7 hens they have already payed 80/ 90 eggsbut what do u recommend doing about this problem
Not knowing the exact situation, I would say most likely some sort of stress. Predators harassing them (flying predators can be an unseen issue, think hawk, owl) is typically the case if nothing else is obvious.
Thanks
Hey
Regarding layer quails for eggs, where I would use their meat after 3-5 years?
For older birds that I am “retiring” I will typically cook them long and slow in a crock pot. Then pull the meat for things like quail and dumplings, quail noodle soup, etc. The bones are then returned with a little vinegar and cooked longer to make stock.
My coop is 4w x 8l x 6h. I can walk in it to clean, feed and collect eggs. I have 3 males and 10 females. I am averaging only 2 eggs a day. They are all old enough to lay, at least 12 weeks. I feed adequate protein feed. They have a dust bath and hidey holes. I would say the daylight is getting shorter so they will stop laying, but most of them never even started. Could walking in their cage once or twice a day stress them enough to prevent egg laying?
It could. Might there be anything else stressing them like predators at night? Also what are you feeding them?
I saw an owl one night, but I don’t know if there’s anything regularly visiting their cage. I feed a turkey/game bird feed with 26% protein
Feed sounds good, I would look into some supplemental light as the days get shorter.
Thank you.
hi, I’m looking to renew my stock of quail. I had 1 male and 3 female in each of 2 cages. now I only have 2 birds in each, The others were killed. I would like to have 4 females and 1 male in each cage. my concern is that introducing new birds into an established cage doesn’t seem to go well, especially as one of my females (white) is particularly savage… they are maybe 15 months old. the white female lays well, and one brown lays well. the other female doesn’t seem to lay at all, and obviously the white male also
When introducing new birds there will always be a need for hem to establish the pecking order. If you have an adjacent cage where they can see and “get to know” each other without fighting before direct introduction this can help. Another option is to place them all in a new/different cage, this helps because none of them have established dominance in the new location. Either way, there will be fighting and it can sometimes be bad.
I got quaturnix quail for about a year and they don’t lay eggs at all for some reason
There are many reasons they may not be laying. Enough hours of day light, high protein food, fresh water, and safety from predators are the many requirements. The should start laying at about 8 weeks all things considered.
They may be males?
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