Quail eggs - a dietary product that is in demand among supporters of a healthy diet. Thanks to its high egg production, quail farming is becoming a profitable business. We will find out what affects the egg productivity of quail, and how to increase it.
How many eggs does a quail carry in nature?
Domesticated quails carry a lot of eggs, because man so wanted. In nature, the female has her own mission - to raise offspring. Wild quail oviposition occurs once a year - in the spring. Young females carry up to 10 eggs, mature ones - up to 20.
How many eggs does a quail carry at home?
A young healthy quail is able to lay 250 to 300 eggs per year. This is an average range of egg production. The number of eggs laid is affected by:
- season;
- quail breed;
- bird age.
The secret of high profitability of quail is their early ability to reproduce. When females turn 35-40 days old, they begin to lay eggs.
Choosing a breed of quail for breeding, you need to compare its capabilities with the goals. The number of eggs laid over a certain period of time depends mainly on the breed, then on the conditions of detention and season. The average rate for quail is 25 eggs per month.
The number of eggs laid by quail for a certain period of time:
- In a day. There are quail breeds, females of which can be carried several times during the day. For example, Japanese quail can carry 2 eggs a day, other, less productive breeds, rush once every few days. The average indicator for quail is an egg per day.
- Per month. The number of eggs laid per month depends not only on the breeds and seasonality, but also on the age of the female. Productivity changes like this:
- the beginning of laying - 8-10 eggs per month;
- in some breeds by the tenth month, the number of laid eggs increases to 13 pieces per month, in others it decreases to 7-8 pieces.
- In year. Highly productive egg breeds - Japanese, Estonian and others - carry 280-320 eggs per year. Meat and egg breeds - 260-280, meat breeds produce 200-220 pieces per year.
When do quail begin and end?
Wild quail live up to five years, the life of domesticated species is even shorter - only 2-3 years. With such a short life, birds have to mature early. A quail is capable of producing eggs when:
- she will be 35-40 days old;
- she will gain 100 g of weight.
Wild quails rush much later. Breeders who bred domestic breeds tried to accelerate the maturation of birds as much as possible, and they succeeded. If the required conditions are maintained, the birds will begin stable egg production from the second month of life.
The highest productivity is observed a week after the start of oviposition. After 3 months, egg production decreases, then the bird ceases to rush - this happens after another 5-7 months. Such dynamics is explained by the short-term life of quail. Recommended:
- change livestock after reaching 8 months of age;
- eggs for incubation should be taken from 2-month-old females - then the chicks will be stronger and healthier.
It is believed that quail eggs laid by females after a year of life are inferior in taste to eggs from younger quails.
Layers after a year of life are considered unpromising. Maximum productivity ends after 10-12 months. In the second year of life, egg production drops by 50% - this is unprofitable. After two years, the number of eggs drops significantly.
How does the breed affect egg production?
Quail breeds are divided into meat, egg and meat and egg. Representatives of egg breeds are distinguished by the highest egg production.
Japanese quail
This breed is a peculiar standard of egg production, meat productivity, and other characteristics. "Egg" indicators of the Japanese breed:
- the number of eggs per year - 250-300 pieces;
- the mass of one egg is 9-12 g;
- the beginning of oviposition is 35-40 days.
Japanese quail have a high fertility rate - it reaches 90%. Under favorable conditions, females are able to lay 320 eggs.
High fruitfulness in this breed lasts about a year, then egg production drops by 50% or more.
Advantages of the Japanese breed:
- undemanding to the conditions of detention;
- resist disease;
- fast weight gain - adult bird weight is reached on the 40th day of life;
- sexual characteristics appear on day 20 - birds can be transplanted into different cells in the early stages.
Pharaoh
This is a meat breed, but their egg production is not much behind the performance of the "Japanese". They carry an average of 220 eggs per year. Egg mass - 12-16 g. Pharaoh fertility is as high as that of the Japanese breed - 80-90%. The pharaoh successfully combines high egg production with the weight of carcasses - the bird is twice as heavy in weight as egg quail. Faraon females weigh 300 g, while the weight of quail eggs is an average of 140-180 g.
Quail eggs are significantly superior to chicken in nutritional value. They have more vitamins, amino acids and trace elements.
English
The breed was bred by the British, in Russia they have been bred since the 80s of the last century. There are two subspecies of English quail - white and black. Nothing but a feather color, these quail will not differ. Their egg production is the same - they carry 270-280 eggs per year. The mass of one egg is 10-11 g.
But the fertility rate of the "English" is lower than that of previous breeds - at the level of 75%. White breed is especially promising for industrial breeding - they not only carry many eggs, but also differ in attractive carcasses of pale pink color.
Estonian
Record holder of egg production. Estonian quail females carry up to 320 eggs per year. Egg weight - 12 g. Fertility - 95%. The best choice for cost-effective breeding of quail eggs.
“Estonians” are appreciated for their versatility, they are cost-effective for any direction - egg or meat. The bird quickly gains mass and carries many eggs. The breed was bred by Estonian breeders in 1989, crossing the Japanese breed with pharaohs and English white quails. The resulting breed was different from all the previous ones:
- a combination of high egg production with good gains;
- high life expectancy;
- Duration of oviposition;
- good survival.
Tuxedo
This is a breed of egg-meat direction, bred by crossing white and black "English". The name, breed received for the original color - the back, wings and tail of tuxedo quails are dark, and the neck and stomach are white.
Tuxedo quails are often kept because of their beauty, but they are also excellent - they are only slightly inferior to the Japanese and Estonian breeds. Females lay the first eggs at the age of 6-7 weeks.
The color of females and males is impossible to distinguish. It is possible to understand who is who only by maturity - by the cloacal gland under the tail of males.
Manchurian
These beauties - perfectly lay eggs. It is difficult to even determine which direction they relate more to - meat or egg. Golden birds are very beautiful - they are often kept for decorative purposes. The birthplace of the breed is China. A characteristic external feature of the Manchu breed is a pattern on the head.
Golden quail body weight is less than broiler breeds, but more than egg-laying. But in terms of the number of eggs laid, they are inferior to the leaders - Japanese and Estonian quails.
Marble
A hybrid of Japanese breed, characterized by a smoky color. The plumes on the plumage resemble the structure of marble. Color varies - quail can have light gray, gold, white and other plumage. By egg production and other indicators do not differ from the Japanese breed. Very high egg production and relatively large eggs - up to 10 g. Ideal breed for decorative keeping.
Comparative egg characteristics of these and other popular breeds, see table 1:
Table 1
Breed name | Direction | Egg production, pcs./year | Egg weight, g | Weight of female / male, g | Fertility% |
Japanese | Egg | 250-300 | 9-11 | 140/120 | 80-90 |
Pharaoh | Meat | 220 | 12-16 | 300/200 | 80-90 |
White english | Egg | 280 | 10-11 | 190/160 | 75 |
Black english | Egg | 280 | 10-11 | 200/170 | 75 |
Tuxedo | Egg and meat | 280 | 10-11 | 170/150 | 80-90 |
Marble | Egg | 260-280 | 9-10 | 140/110 | 70 |
Manchurian | Egg and meat | 220 | 16 | 300/175 | 80 |
Estonian | Egg | 300-320 | 12 | 200/170 | 95 |
Egg weight and composition
The average weight of quail eggs is 10 g. The weight range is 7-12 g. Some breeds are larger. Spotted shell. The main disadvantage is the high cholesterol content.
It is believed that homemade eggs cannot be a source of salmonella, so they can be eaten without heat treatment. This is not true. Most bacteria die because of the high body temperature of the bird, but not all. Raw eggs can, in particular, cause infection with pullorose.
Quail eggs are considered a dietary product. Their calorie content is only 168 calories per 100 g. Table 2 presents the chemical composition and nutritional value of quail eggs.
table 2
Name | 100 g amount |
squirrels | 11.9 g |
fats | 13.1 g |
carbohydrates | 0.6 g |
water | 73.2 g |
cholesterol | 600 mg |
calcium | 54 mg |
iron | 3.2 mg |
copper | 112 mcg |
phosphorus | 218 mg |
cobalt | 62 mg |
potassium | 144 mg |
sodium | 115 mg |
manganese | 0.03 mg |
sulfur | 124 mg |
magnesium | 32 mg |
vitamins of groups A and B1 | 13.7 mcg |
carotenoids | 67 mg |
vitamin PP | 11 mcg |
vitamin B2 | 110 mcg |
Thanks to the regular use of quail eggs:
- the body is restored after heavy mental or physical exertion;
- increased immunity;
- hemoglobin rises;
- the work of the nervous system is normalized.
Quail eggs are useful for atherosclerosis, bronchial asthma, diabetes, hypertension, obesity, migraines, and chronic cholecystitis. For a therapeutic effect, it is enough to eat 2-3 eggs daily.
How are quail eggs different from chicken?
All have heard about the usefulness of quail eggs. A comparative analysis is shown in table 3. The values are shown for one egg.
Table 3
Index | Amount in one egg, g | |
quail | chicken | |
weight | 7-13 | 48-56 |
protein | 13 | 12 |
fats | 11 | 11,5 |
carbohydrates | 0,5 | 0,7 |
Quail eggs are superior to chicken in the number of minerals. They also have twice as many vitamins.
Seasonality of egg production
For females to lay eggs year-round, they require special conditions:
- Provide a minimum area. For one quail - 180-220 square meters. see Excess free space also negatively affects productivity, as does lack of space.
- No drafts and stress, ventilation and cleanliness of the room.
- Temperature in the range + 20 ... + 22 ° C.
- Humidity at the level of 70-75%. Humidity can be adjusted by installing special humidifiers. If there are none, you can just put pots with water.
- The length of daylight hours is 14-15 hours. In order for the quail to continue racing in the winter season, it will be necessary to artificially “lengthen” the day - turn on the lighting. It should be soft.
Bright lighting is contraindicated in quailing - it will provoke fights among birds.
There is only one period in the life cycle of domesticated quail, during which the laying of eggs can stop - molting. The duration of the adverse phase is three weeks. At this time, it is important to provide birds with warmth - the temperature should not fall below + 18 ° C.
How to maintain egg production in winter?
It is recommended to leave young birds for wintering - they have a denser layer of fluff, therefore they better tolerate cold, they require less additional heating. In winter, it is important to ensure:
- Normal temperature. Cells are insulated. The method of insulation is selected depending on the material - there are wooden and metal trellised cells.
- The room with the cells should have windows and ventilation openings.
- Humidity is maintained at 50% - with the help of humidifiers or ordinary wet rags hanging in the room. If the humidity is low, the bird drinks a lot, eats little, gains weight poorly and reduces oviposition.
- Daylight hours in winter are extended artificially. For lighting and heating, you can use various infrared lamps - they not only give light, but also heat. To heat a room with a livestock of 500 pieces, one 40 W lamp is enough.
- Light in the winter is left for 15 hours a day. He must be muffled. Some poultry farmers insist on 17-18 hours of lighting, but then it is necessary to alternate light and dark periods.
Why don’t the quail rush?
Decreased productivity is a disaster for the egg farm. The reasons for the drop in egg production are mainly due to improper care and violation of the conditions of detention:
- Too long or too short daylight hours. At any time of the year, the light must not burn more than 18 hours a day.
- Violation of the temperature regime - too hot, cold or sudden changes in temperature.
- Unbalanced diet. In the diet of quail there should be proteins. Poor and rough feed mixtures negatively affect productivity - birds suffer from digestive disorders, weaken and do not rush.
- Cramped Sparrowhawk.
- Noise - birds are afraid of loud noises.
- Stress - birds do not tolerate a change of residence. Usually, after transportation, productivity decreases for a while.
- The disease. It is possible to determine that quail is sick, not only by their behavior, but also by shell.
How to find out - is quail rushing?
Which of the hens works with full dedication, and who only eats food for nothing? It’s easy to find out:
- Take the bird in your hands and lay it on your palm with your stomach. So that the head of the quail is directed in your direction. Her belly should lie on the fingers of her hand.
- Feel the stomach - the laying egg feels a solid egg, shifted to the side. In a female who does not carry an egg for a long time, the abdomen sinks like a male inside.
- When checking egg production, do not make efforts, act carefully - quails are very shy.
How to select eggs for incubation?
The key to successful quail breeding is quality eggs. In order for the stock to rush well and grow rapidly, you need to remove it from the most selected eggs. Selection criteria:
- The egg must be in the correct shape.
- The shell should have a smooth surface, without roughness and roughness.
- The egg must be clean - no plaque.
- The shape is perfect, the elongated and spherical eggs are rejected.
- Egg mass should not go beyond the optimal range specific to a particular breed.
- If eggs are purchased, they can be stored until incubation for 7 days, no more.
But selection by outward signs is half the battle. If you need eggs for divorce, you need to conduct their transmission - ovoscopy. I need a device - an ovoscope. If there is no device, you can do with a bright flashlight.
What you need to check when scanned:
- The number of yolks - two-yolk eggs are rejected.
- The location of the yolk - it should be in the middle, but be slightly offset towards the blunt edge.
- Foreign matter - blood clots, for example.
- Shell integrity - reject specimens with cracks, chips.
- Purity of protein and yolk - there should be no dark spots.
How to increase egg production?
- In case of poor productivity, it is recommended to add chalk or fine gravel to dry food - to improve digestion.
- Feed the bird three times a day - 30 g of feed per bird. Feeding should occur at the same time. In between feedings, the feeders should be empty - so that later the bird would eat with appetite.
- Quail should be fed with a special balanced compound feed - for quail. If the food is prepared on its own, its composition cannot be drastically changed.
The specialist talks about ways to increase the egg production of quail egg breeds:
Having correctly selected the breed of quail, and providing them with the correct conditions of detention, you can get maximum productivity in eggs. The main thing to remember about the short-term high egg production of quail, and to timely update the livestock.
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