How to hatch quail?

[nessa1317]

I was reding different pages on ways people hatch quail. I have never hatched anything yet! I read something that said to set in the incubator for 3 days so they set , and then start turning them 2 or 3 imes a day. Does any one have any commets on that or any other tips on hatching quail. Im getting them tomorrow so i hope to hear something! Thank you

 

[TwoCrows]

What type quail you are hatching will depend on incubation times, temp and humidity levels.

As far as egg storage, if you are receiving shipped eggs in the mail, it is best to let them rest, large end up, for 12 or 24 hours so the bubbles dissipate before incubation, and allow them to come to room temp. If you are going to hatching freshly collected eggs, it is best to let them rest for at least 3 days. Make sure not to store eggs in a warm place as you don't want them starting to develop until you actually put them in the incubator. So a place that is 50 - 60 degrees is best, large end up. If you are storing them more than one day, turn them a few times a day.

Start up the incubator 24 hours in advance to get the temp and humidity settled in. Then place eggs in, either on their sides with large end leaning up, or the large end straight up, depending on what type of incubator you have.

Good luck!

 

[nessa1317]

Ok thanks that helps me more. Im getting Georgia Giants Bobwhite Quail and im recieving them in the mail tomorrow. SO i will let them rest 12-24 hours. I do have an egg turner so hopefully i can use that with them if they fit im not sure if they will though. Would you recomend candeling? Any other info you can tell me would be great, but thanks for the info you gave!

 

[TwoCrows]

The temp for the Georgia Giant eggs is 99.7 degrees, humidity during incubation is 50% to 55%. Day 21 is lock down day when you stop the egg turning. Up the humidity to about 60% to 70% from lock down to hatch day. MAKE SURE to open all vents in your incubator during this time! The hatching babies are going to need all the air they can get while hatching. They should hatch around day 24-26.

Use a quail chick waterer or put marbles or small stones in the water dish so they don't drown in the water. Quail are suseptable to falling into their water and drowning. Feed them gamebird or turkey starter feed, something with 24% to 28% protein level. If the crumbles are too large for them to eat, which sometimes they are, crush them down for a few days.

Take the hatched babies out of the incubator when they are fully dry and dip each ones beak in the water so they know where the water is. (quail are not that smart. LOL) Use paper towels on the first few days and sprinkle food all over the brooder floor til the figure out where the food is.

Start the temp at 98 degrees in the brooder and lower it by 5 degrees each week till they are 6 weeks old.

 

[TwoCrows]

You can candle, but it is not recommended to handle the eggs too much from bacteria that could be on your fingers. But around 10 days you should see blood veins growing inside. If it the eggs are clear, they can be removed. By day 20, the air sac at the top of the egg should be fairly large and you should see movement inside the egg. Do not candle or move the eggs after you lock down, as the chick needs to get into position for hatching.

Oh, and good luck and enjoy!

Edit to add: Since you don't have an egg turner, turn your eggs at least 3 times a day. Stop turning eggs on day 21. Wash and dry your hands first before touching the eggs.