So, GQF had the hovabator genesis 1588, turners, and quail rails as a combo (cheaper than separately with shipping) for a decent deal so I went for it. Here is the thing. I have never hatched before, I am a chicken person (although I am looking to get into game birds, pheasant really) and this combo comes with 30 quail eggs. I am, of course, going to attempt to hatch them and can build whatever I need to keep them (I have a large brooder and plenty of room to build). I just hadn't planned on it and now I have a really steep learning curve to catch up with.
Here is my understanding:
Incubate close to 100 (will the preset work?) at 45 - 55% humidity, then up the humidity a bit at lockdown? Which would be when? 20 days?
Then as soon as they are dry, into the brooder at close to 100 with gamebird starter on the floor and a waterer that is either made for tiny quail or use marbles in a chick waterer?
Then into cages at 5 or 7 weeks? 1 square foot per bird in breeding pen, 3 in flight pen?
Here is where I am totally befuddled:
1 to 1 mating, 3 to 1 mating, colony?
I do understand that I can house a good number of hens in one pen together, but what if I want (and I will) to get fertile eggs. What is the ideal? I have seen different reports for the bobwhites.
Also, cages:
Ground?
Elevated?
Wire?
Solid?
Personally, I think an elevated cage is probably a lot easier on my back (until I get that aviary built). Solid or wire? How much shelter? Should it be a hollow log or bark or branches or a roof or both?
Sorry for the total newbie stuff, but I want to be ready. I don't generally jump right in like this... usually it is months of research before I go for it.
Here is my understanding:
Incubate close to 100 (will the preset work?) at 45 - 55% humidity, then up the humidity a bit at lockdown? Which would be when? 20 days?
Then as soon as they are dry, into the brooder at close to 100 with gamebird starter on the floor and a waterer that is either made for tiny quail or use marbles in a chick waterer?
Then into cages at 5 or 7 weeks? 1 square foot per bird in breeding pen, 3 in flight pen?
Here is where I am totally befuddled:
1 to 1 mating, 3 to 1 mating, colony?
I do understand that I can house a good number of hens in one pen together, but what if I want (and I will) to get fertile eggs. What is the ideal? I have seen different reports for the bobwhites.
Also, cages:
Ground?
Elevated?
Wire?
Solid?
Personally, I think an elevated cage is probably a lot easier on my back (until I get that aviary built). Solid or wire? How much shelter? Should it be a hollow log or bark or branches or a roof or both?
Sorry for the total newbie stuff, but I want to be ready. I don't generally jump right in like this... usually it is months of research before I go for it.
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