how many quail eggs can i put under a broody bantam
- Thread starter sussex x
- Start date
19 ? 
Hi Sussex x, and welcome to the Forum.
The problem may be that she will crack or break the eggs. Quail eggs have thinner, softer shells than hens eggs, because they are designed for a smaller bird to sit on them (although it is rare for quail to actually do this.) Even a bantam could easily penetrate them by shifting around with her relatively heavy feet on top of them. However, if you want to have a go, and are purchasing eggs, why not just try a dozen and see how she gets on?
I'm not sure how she would take to such very tiny chicks when they hatch, though - I've hatched coturnix and they are really tiddly for the first week, like those little fluffy model chicks you can get to go on easter decorations. Could easily get stepped on I would think, or even there might be the risk of her rejecting or eating them. And it would be very unkind to take them away from her after they have hatched, with her hormones all primed to look after her chicks.
The problem may be that she will crack or break the eggs. Quail eggs have thinner, softer shells than hens eggs, because they are designed for a smaller bird to sit on them (although it is rare for quail to actually do this.) Even a bantam could easily penetrate them by shifting around with her relatively heavy feet on top of them. However, if you want to have a go, and are purchasing eggs, why not just try a dozen and see how she gets on?
I'm not sure how she would take to such very tiny chicks when they hatch, though - I've hatched coturnix and they are really tiddly for the first week, like those little fluffy model chicks you can get to go on easter decorations. Could easily get stepped on I would think, or even there might be the risk of her rejecting or eating them. And it would be very unkind to take them away from her after they have hatched, with her hormones all primed to look after her chicks.
hi , thanks for the quick reply . i'v seen on a couple of forums people doing this successfully , my hen is quite' miniature ' and only sits on about 9 eggs also i have lined the nest with soft material ( wool , hey and straw ) , if this would make a difference . would it be possible to place larger ( chicken ) eggs under her with the quail eggs ? also i contacted the quail egg supplier and said it would be fine , BUT you would have to remove young ASAP after hatching .
regards
regards
If you tried a mixed batch you'd have to set the chicken eggs 3 days before the quail as they take 21 days and the quail take 18. However both kinds can be a day out either way so it might be difficult to get a simultaneous hatch. There might also be problems removing the quail chicks if you had to disturb her whilst hatching was going on, as she would be happiest just left to get on with it. Also it might happen that if the chickens hatched first they might peck the baby quail.
It sounds as if she has sat successfully before, is that right? I'm only trying to help think this through, not trying to put you off the attempt!
I've found quail chicks are easy to hatch in an incubator so it's not as if you're trying with a species that is difficult in itself. However, out of 12 posted eggs in my last hatch, 1 was cracked in transit, 2 were infertile and 1 chick failed to grow. So I reared 8, of which 7 were useless males, and now I have the problem of integrating my lone female with others older than her who don't want her in their cage. (I realise this is totally irrelevant to your query, just having a moan to a fellow quail breeder!) I know people have successfully tried using a broody and shall be very interested to hear how you get on.
It sounds as if she has sat successfully before, is that right? I'm only trying to help think this through, not trying to put you off the attempt!
I've found quail chicks are easy to hatch in an incubator so it's not as if you're trying with a species that is difficult in itself. However, out of 12 posted eggs in my last hatch, 1 was cracked in transit, 2 were infertile and 1 chick failed to grow. So I reared 8, of which 7 were useless males, and now I have the problem of integrating my lone female with others older than her who don't want her in their cage. (I realise this is totally irrelevant to your query, just having a moan to a fellow quail breeder!) I know people have successfully tried using a broody and shall be very interested to hear how you get on.
hi , thanks i will probably just stick with quail eggs , how many eggs do you think i should put under her to get the best results ( more successful hatch's ) ? , also would it be ok if i remove the chicks as soon as they hatch and replace with different eggs , which she can rear her self once they hatch . such as duck or chicken ? i am also looking for a species of duck which is a good breeder , not too loud and can do without water for long periods of time .
thanks . by the way the hen has hatched successfully in the past , but not with me ( from the guy i brought it from ) .
regards
thanks . by the way the hen has hatched successfully in the past , but not with me ( from the guy i brought it from ) .
regards
hi , i'v heard ducks are quite messy , do you think they will destroy my garden ( i mean eat up all the grass , plants ,' digg ' around when it rains etc ) ? or is this just the case with larger breeds ? let me know if you have any ideas of good breeds to suit my garden please
thanks
thanks
She will have been sitting for nearly 3 weeks before the quail hatch and may not stay the course if you then put chicken eggs under her for 3 more weeks. Either she will go off the idea or may be worn out from her 6 week marathon in the nestbox.
Quail eggs are quite cheap to buy, I paid £7.50 per dozen for mine, £10 if posted, so you could try with up to 2 dozen I should think to allow for non-fertile ones and breakages. However, think hard about how many quial you need, if the hatch is successful after all - quail babies grow incredibly fast and are mature round about 6 weeks, by which time you will need roomy accommodation for them. I keep up to 4 in a cage 2ft by 3 ft, any more crowded than that is a mistake. You also need a spare cage as the males in particular are very aggressive and once the hormones flood in at 4-6 weeks they are quite likely to damage the females by grabbing hold of their heads and necks when mating them and tearing out chunks of flesh. Injured girls need a cage on their own to recover, and you then need a separate cage for the males, unless you do as I now do and cull them as soon as they are 'diagnosed'. Unless you intend to breed more they are more trouble than they are worth in my opinion - it's not nice going down in the morning to find another bloodbath. The girls usually live peacefully on their own and all mine are now laying every day, very productive when not being chased round all the time in fear of their lives from the boys!
Quail eggs are quite cheap to buy, I paid £7.50 per dozen for mine, £10 if posted, so you could try with up to 2 dozen I should think to allow for non-fertile ones and breakages. However, think hard about how many quial you need, if the hatch is successful after all - quail babies grow incredibly fast and are mature round about 6 weeks, by which time you will need roomy accommodation for them. I keep up to 4 in a cage 2ft by 3 ft, any more crowded than that is a mistake. You also need a spare cage as the males in particular are very aggressive and once the hormones flood in at 4-6 weeks they are quite likely to damage the females by grabbing hold of their heads and necks when mating them and tearing out chunks of flesh. Injured girls need a cage on their own to recover, and you then need a separate cage for the males, unless you do as I now do and cull them as soon as they are 'diagnosed'. Unless you intend to breed more they are more trouble than they are worth in my opinion - it's not nice going down in the morning to find another bloodbath. The girls usually live peacefully on their own and all mine are now laying every day, very productive when not being chased round all the time in fear of their lives from the boys!
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