Coturnix grow up fast. Hens typically start laying around 6–8 weeks, and birds can breed shortly after.
But “can” and “should” differ:
- Giving hens a little more time (closer to 8+ weeks) before hatching their eggs tends to mean better egg size and fewer problems.
- Male fertility is generally good once mature — you’ll confirm it by candling the first batch.
- Laying and fertility are driven heavily by daylight — 14–16 hours of light keeps them in production.
Because they mature so quickly, you can go from egg to laying hen in about two months and run multiple generations a year — part of why Coturnix are such a great project bird for color work or 4-H/FFA. What age did your hens start laying?