First time incubating Coturnix eggs! Set today! pg 2

[Attack Chicken]

Recently I won 48 Coturnix quail eggs I believe. I'd like to know what temp should a LG still air with turner be? What day should I stop turning and what day should I expect little ones on? Any info would be great!

 

[Isablahblah]

well i stoped turning on day 15 and they came out on day 17 but i hear some can come out even on day 23 or earlier!

 

[mschickychick]

I stop turning Coturnix on day 14. Mine usually hatch day 16 but a few have gone til day 18. I keep my temp around 99.5 to 100 degrees and humidity around 60 percent. It would be a good idea to put something on top of the wire so your babies feet do not fall through. I put cheese cloth on the wire but understand a towel or something like that will work too. I get good results on my LG with this setup.

Hope this helps.

added: humidity 60 percent from day 14 but around 40 percent prior to that.

 

[Attack Chicken]

Thank you!!! So if I set tonight tomorrow be day 1 right? And stop turning on day 14. I just want to get this right

 

[mschickychick]

That's the way I do it. If I put them in today tomorrow will be day 1. And stop turning at day 14.

Best of luck on your hatch. You will love Coturnix.

 

[shelleyd2008]

I always count the day I set them as day 1, it's less confusing that way. Keep your bator around 100 degrees, still or forced air. Humidity should be at least 50% for incubation, 65%+ for the hatch. They should take 18 days. saddina's took up to 23 days to hatch, but her temps were very low, and I believe she only got 2 eggs to hatch.

Your eggs came from macnugget, it wouldn't surprise me one bit if they all hatch. I had gotten some eggs from him a few months ago (shipped from OH to KY), and had 21 of 24 eggs hatch. One of the eggs was cracked when it got here.

So incubator temp at 100*, humidity 50%/65%+, 18 days to hatch, stop turning on day 14 just to be safe. Brooder temp of 98* for the first few days. You should be good to go!

 

[Attack Chicken]

I'll set them in the morning then

 

[shelleyd2008]

You'd be better off setting them tonight, actually, that way you won't be tempted to check them too much. They'll hatch overnight when you are sleeping

Another thing that hasn't been mentioned is that quail chicks can not survive as long without food and water. Max is about 24 hours, but 12 is better. You will need a quail water base, or some parakeet waterers, they seem to be attracted to water when they are brand-new.

ETA: I always count the day set as day 1, and I always set them at night...it works

 

[Attack Chicken]

I have a quail base waterer that I used for my bantams

Perfect! I'm not sure if I will keep any that hatch though. About the food chick starter isn't good enough right? I have to find a place that has game bird starter?

 

[shelleyd2008]

I feed mine flock raiser, it is 20% protein. They need higher protein (like game bird starter), but I haven't seen any problems with them being smaller as adults, it just takes them longer to get to their adult size

If your chick starter is 20% protein or higher, you would just need to give them some boiled eggs a few times a week, that should be enough to do it. But I feed mine nothing but the 20% and don't have any problems.