first quail incubation

[fishman65]

Ok, I have incubated guineas, chickens and ducks so it is only natural that i now try to set some coturnix
eggs. I have collected these eggs from my daughters "PET" birds. these eggs are so small that they really
scare me and i am actually nervous about this hatch. If anybody has any advise it would be greatly appreciated
as this is new to me and real important to my 5 yr old daughter. Thanks in advance!

 

[canter6]

I know some quail people that will swat me for saying this, but just do exactly what you do when you hatch chickens with a few modifications.

Forced air incubator: 99.5 deg. 45-50% humidity for 14 days. Turn at least twice a day if hand turning, and stop turning on the 14th day or move from auto turner to hatcher. I'm not sure about your bator setup. Increase humidity to 65-75% (Optional: Lower temp .5 to 1 deg.) Some people swear by the temp drop, but the only scientific reason for dropping the temp is to increase humidity without increasing the surface are of the water. Do or don't and you should be fine.
If all goes well, you should have some chicks at around 17-20 days. 21 tops.

If you have a still air bator, someone else should chime in. I don't recall the settings off hand. Sorry.

Compared to chicken, guinea, and duck eggs, quail eggs are small. Just handle the same way you would handle any hatching egg.

Best of luck! Keep us posted.

 

[fishman65]

thank you, I have a homemade mini refrigerator incubator. I usually dry hatch my birds but am willing to go a little higher with my humidity to try something new. My incubator is forced air. thanks for your input it is most helpfull.

 

[thebirdfarm]

From my experience you have to work a little to hatch chickens ducks and guineas. Quail however seem to hatch no matter what you do. Sometimes they hatch so well I wonder if they would hatch just sitting on the countertop next to the incubator. I've left them in the turner until hatch, not turned them at all, had the incubator turn off with power failure for about 2 hours, done dry hatches, etc. and they always seem to hatch. I would just to what you always do and they should hatch.

 

[farrier!]

I agree with thebirdfarm !!
Mine are often incubating in my "hatcher". So the humidity is all over the place and turning is sporatic but I still get over a 90% hatch rate.

 

[Overeasyplz]

Quote:
LOL no wonder they call courtnix the "roach" of the quail breeds...

 

[fishman65]

WOW!!! Everything i have heard has been real negative about them hatching. I thought 20-30% hatch was good. Hopefully i am worrying oven nothing. thanks for the words of encouragement. Will see what happens. I can slowly feel blood pressure going down.

 

[_Randall_]

Quote:
Ditto on that!! Been reading up a little on incubating here lately...........mainly trying to decide whether to buy an incubator, or build one. But I have been pondering about the "egg turning" deal, as I don't mind doing it before I go to work, and again in the evening......if that is sufficient enough for a high-percentage hatch? Anyway, all you experts........please give us newbies some words of "economical" encouragement on incubating (without having to get a 2nd mortgage on the house.....LOL)

 

[Pavo Royale]

I have had a great hatches after turning them before and after work and before bed. With quail I usually just gently shake the incubator, and I use the X and O method with peafowl and chickens.

 

[fishman65]

I turn my eggs 3 times a day.about every 8hrs. my incubator is homemade. I got a little 1.7cu ft refrig free on craigslist and put a 40 watt light and a hot water heater thermostat in it for a cost of $11.00. There was a fan inside therefrig that i left in there for my forced air. I just got a 80% hatch out of it with mutt chicken eggs. I leave my eggs in the carton and turn by using a 2x4 under the front or the back of the refrig. hope this rambling helps.