Completely new to this

[504707]

Yes, agreed! If they are being shipped, I've seen it recommended to let them sit for 24 hours at room temp to let the eggs settle and if any air cells are detached they may readjust. Not sure if this is needed advice for quail eggs though (usual advice for chicken eggs though). If you let them sit, they should be pointy side down.

How many eggs are you getting? What type of quail?

24 eggs, mixed coturnix. I couldnt find anyone in my area who keeps quail so ebay it was.

 

[Acre4Me]

24 eggs, mixed coturnix. I couldnt find anyone in my area who keeps quail so ebay it was.

Good Luck! Once you candle them at around day 10, you'll know if you have fertile eggs! I have the same - Coturnix. I have about 30 in 5 cages - 1 male with 5 girls each cage. I'm using "rabbit cages" with wire bottoms and removable poop trays. They seem pretty happy. We use paper to line the poop tray for easier removal. We've been adding basic clay cat litter (labelled "natural" and with NO scent added) as it seems to help with the odor a bit (does not solve the odor issue though) and it is cheap for a large bag. We change poop trays 2x per week.

For the first week or two, you need to grind up their crumbles into smaller bits. I used a blender (the smaller "smoothie" container attachment), which worked fine. Make sure to use higher protein feed. I have access to game bird starter here. However, I can also get "natural" chicken starter at 22% and 24%. The 24% is marketed as Chick starter, but indicates turkeys, pheasants in smaller font.

 

[504707]

Good Luck! Once you candle them at around day 10, you'll know if you have fertile eggs! I have the same - Coturnix. I have about 30 in 5 cages - 1 male with 5 girls each cage. I'm using "rabbit cages" with wire bottoms and removable poop trays. ...

Got the thermometer, turns out I insulated it so well that its 40C inside had to make quite a big hole to ventilate excess heat out. Humidity is not a problem though, at 40% atm.

 

[Acre4Me]

Got the thermometer, turns out I insulated it so well that its 40C inside had to make quite a big hole to ventilate excess heat out. Humidity is not a problem though, at 40% atm.

Good! When the eggs are added, pay close attention to the temp the first couple of days - I found that the mass added from the eggs seemed to increase the temp in the incubator, so I had to adjust things a bit. But, good to know it is holding temp and humidity!

 

[504707]

OH my look at these teeny tiny mini eggies!!

 

[Acre4Me]

OH my look at these teeny tiny mini eggies!!
View attachment 1311656

Nice!!! Good luck with them!

 

[bahamabanty]

The problem with my home made incubator was that at night the temperature went down in the room and so did the temp in the incubator... it caused many sleepless nights watching the incubator... then in the morning the temp was too high... Eventually I bought a Brinsea Mini eco. Now I have one of those cheap digital yellow chinese 48 egg bators. Been hatching for more than a year with that one. They turn the eggs and adjust the temp automatically. Just load em and 18 days later you got chicks.

 

[504707]

Gutted, just candled a few of them and it looks like they are all dead. I'll give it until lockdown day and then candle them all. It doesn't look promising though...