How to breed Japanese Quail

[7L Farm]

Quote:
I think I would want something smaller than that as I mainly want to keep quail as pets rather than for use as produce (eggs or meat), so I think it would take a long time for me to get my money's worth from a really expensive bator. The one I found is about £94.99 (which granted is quite expensive, but cheaper than some I have found). It only holds seven quail eggs, but I think that would be enough to fullfill my needs to begin with (at least until I have enough confidence to start breeding on a larger scale), it has full humidity and temperature control, though I will be getting one of those reptile thermometre/hydrometre things, has an inbuilt fan and automatic turner with an auto stop two days prior to hatching (I think you set the length of the incubation period at the beginning).

So, fairy pricey, but nicely sized and covers pretty much all the bases for the incubation period. Do you think this would be ideal?

I hear what your saying I like to hatch alot of birds at once so I'm glad I bought this one. I was gonna buy the smaller Brinsea glad I didn't. I read on hear alot about people owning three smaller Brinsea's bators. They probably wished they had bought the bigger machine. It's your call for sure. I would definitely go with a Brinsea just from my experience with their product. My hatches have been very rewarding but then again I usually only hatch from my stock.The numbers from using my stock vs shipped eggs are others eggs has always been a lower number of hatched eggs. Its always better if your in the drivers seat from start to finish. JMO

 

[animal8]

If I did decide to breed, it would definitely be from my own birds. I've heard about a lot of not so positive results from hatching eggs that are ordered in. I'll probably just keep one group of 3 hens to 1 cock bird and take eggs for hatching from them. Then I would have the satisfaction of knowing that I'd cared for the parent birds as well

I'm getting excited about all this already and I haven't even owned my first bird yet

 

[animal8]

Just found the incubator I was talking about. It's an R-COM Mini Egg Incubator and comes with a quail egg tray as well

I think it's pretty nifty.

 

[7L Farm]

Quote:
Good idea!

 

[Jimsbirdhouse]

Randy, You need my setup 5 GQF running most of the time during hatching season.I was wondering way my utility bill weighed 10 pounds 'When business is good on the game ranches I can incubate over 6000 eggs. I"m glad to see the quail stop laying. I think I'll GO FISHING

 

[animal8]

Does anyone know where I can buy a chick feeder from in the UK? Or could I make my own? I've read that some people take any old container and cut holes big enough and high enough for the birds head to fit in and put the feed in there. Would this be suitable, or would it be better to keep the food in a shallow dish until they are old enough? I think for the first few days, at least, I will just put some feed scattered on the floor of the brooder to make it easier for them, but what's the best method for after?

 

[saddina]

I do the food scatter while they're in the brooder, once they go outside it's chick feeders. the head hole is 3 cm X5 cm ovals. I've used a drill to cut them into a piece of plastic (an ice cream container).

 

[Jimsbirdhouse]

Go to my BYC page and look at the feeders that I build' I can make any size you need. I also build chick feeders which is listed but with no picture.

 

[_Randall_]

Quote:
X2 .......... If you even think you'll get serious about raising quail, do without a few of those little luxuries here and there, and put those nickels on a sho-nuff bator. Ain't nuthin nicer than havin' one big enough (with egg turners) to hatch'em by the hundreds...

 

[animal8]

How hard would it be to build my own incubator? I have heard of several different methods, one being using a styrofoam box as the main body, cut a whole in the top for a lightbulb, cut a window in the front and cover it with plastic and having a sliding grid in the bottom to act as a turner that can be controlled from the outside. Someone else made the suggestion for humidity, placing a small cup of water in the corner and a straw that pokes through the lid above it, so it can be refilled without removing the lid.

Would anyone recommend this? It would be cheaper than buying an incubator, I could set more eggs than the incubator I found before and I know that when done properly, people have had quite successful hatches by using a home made baotr like this. Has anyone here done this before? What would you suggest for ventilation?

I would definitely have a couple of thermometres in there and run it for a few days before I set, just so I can check that it is maintaining all the correct temps and humidity. What strength lightbulb would you suggest to help maintain the temperature at about 37.5 degrees Celsius? (Sorry, I don't know what that is in Faranheit)