Bob White Quail Brooding

[Berry1177]

I have ten Bob White Quail eggs in an incubator. I took these eggs from my penned quai's nest. Three hens and one rooster.
I successfully did this with 12 eggs earlier this Spring and the chicks are now 4 weeks old and still in my brooder.
My question - has anyone slipped incubated eggs back to the nest so that the hatching occurs in the nest ? Would my hens then brood the chicks ?

 

[TwoCrows]

Bobs rarely if ever go completely broody. Much of this instinct has been lost over the years of domestication. They will set on eggs for short period of times, but never the entire cycle.

So unless you have a pair of Bobs that are actually setting and have been so for several days, 24/7, then you will need your incubator.

 

[Berry1177]

But what if I keep the eggs in the incubator for 23 days,then slip the eggs back into the nest? When the chicks hatch,do you think the hens will accept them?
And I very much agree with you on the hens setting 34/7. No way. They set part of the day and even rotate setting between the 3 of them, but do not set for any long periods.
Thank you for your help.

 

[TwoCrows]

If the hens are not setting 24/7 then you can't take the eggs from the incubator and put them in the nest. Eggs need to be brooded right up to the time of hatch, with proper humidity from the hen and her brood patch. And if you put babies in the nest, the adult birds will probably kill the babies if the hen or roo is not broody. And it doesn't sound like any of yours are. So keep your eggs in the incubator.

 

[Berry1177]

Makes a lot of sense. I will keep the eggs in the incubator then brood the chicks myself.
Really thank you for your help.