hatching quail eggs for the first time

[watergoddess]

I purchased quail eggs (cant wait for them to get here) and i was wondering since i dont have an automatic egg turner how would i prop them on the wire so the big end is tilted up? would it be ok to use a bit of cotton? I also bout a digital therm that also checks the humidity.


any tips on hatching quail eggs or any eggs would help.

 

[loveourbirds]

I hatch some quail myself, I do put the big end up; but I don't think you have to. I believe you can lay them on their side, turn them about 3 or 4 times a day. if for some reason they do have to be big end up you might try putting them in egg cartons or ice cube trays (I would drill the trays first for ventilation.) to turn them you would put one of the long sides on something to raise it, then simply turn it around. you probably could get by with putting one of the edges of the ice cube tray on the edge of another, depending on the trays.

 

[gingerly1983]

I've been hatching quail for a little while now. If you are hatching shipped eggs, they would be better incubated with the fat end up. I'm guessing that's what you have since you said you couldn't wait for them to get here lol Do you have any of the things 'loveourbirds' mentioned? You may have to get creative to get them situated right. What about a small, thin box? Like a little bigger than a checkbook box? You could cut holes in the top that are bigger than the bottom of the egg, but smaller than the fat end. That way they could sit in there and you could still tilt them to turn them. Ventilation is a big thing so put holes all over the box, but not too many that would make it collapse. Sorry, this is the only idea I can come up with right now. If you can't rig anything up then you can incubate them on their sides, it just may lower your hatch rate.


Just a side note- Coturnix quail take 17-18 days to hatch, Bobwhites take 23.

 

[watergoddess]

I'm thinking of cutting very thin strips of cardboard just enough to raise the ends up.

Thnx for the help!!

 

[watergoddess]

i can't rig anything up ;_; how much would it lower my hatch rate if i just put them on their sides? also any tips on temperature regulation in a still air incubator? i seem to be having a little trouble since i don't know much i should prop up the thermometer (i don't know how big the eggs are) maybe i'm just being dumb though.

 

[bugglesmommy]

If the air cells are damaged or detached it could cause real trouble to leave them on their side. I hatched local quail eggs that way with no problem but they weren't shipped or damaged. Do you have a local feed store? They may sell quail egg cartons. Mine does. If not maybe you could rig something up with tape and cardboard.

 

[gingerly1983]

Ok...I've been thinking about your situation more. Take the tops off a few styrofoam egg cartons. Cut holes all in the flat part of it. Place it in your bator with the inside of the carton face down. This way it creates a little elevation so the bottom of the eggs can still have ventilation. Viola! Just put a little block or something under one end to 'turn' it, and several hours later shift that block to the other end. The styrofoam carton lid should be sturdy enough to hold quail eggs without caving. Just don't cut the holes right next to each other. Leave about 1/2 gap between each hole.

 

[loveourbirds]

that is a very good idea. if this is something you become addicted to like I did, you could use a piece of copper water pipe, or other thinner metal pipe. file one end until sharp, put on carton and tap with hammer. an instant, neat hole.

 

[azer]

I wish I would of read this 17 days ago my babies would of been hatching by now.. I received my quail eggs by mail let them rest and set for 24 hrs at room temp. I used the same quail carton to set them in the incubator ... Seven days I candle. All 15 had heart beats.. my mistake was not putting vent holes at the bottom of the egg carton. 2 out of 15 are on lock down I should be seeing my babies today or tomorrow! Crossing fingers

 

[watergoddess]

If I buy a quail egg cartons do I put ventilation holes in them? Or can I use the carton they come in? They are supposed to come in a plastic carton.
And if I set the in a carton how do I place them? Is it okay for them to incubate with all the large ends to be pointing completely up? Or do I have to sort of finagle them to be on their sides with their ends slightly tilted up. (Hopefully you guys can understand what I'm trying to say lol)