How to transform a chicken egg turner tray into one for quail?

[Scooter&Suzie]

I just picked up a HovaBator incubator from a friend because I plan to set 100 coturnix quail eggs next week. I brought it home and discovered they have a turning tray for it too! There are 42 holes for eggs, but they look way to big for little quail eggs. I found trays online for quail eggs that are $27, but it pains me to buy that for one time use. The idea of turning 100 eggs 3 times a day also pains me, though. Is there anyway I can adapt the current tray or make one myself? I tried looking on here and on google, but I could only find instructions for building a complete turner, not just the tray.

 

[JetCat]

you'll need the quail egg rails (it's just the rails you swap not a whole new turner) or manual turn them.

 

[lugnut151]

If you could situate all the eggs in their cartons in the incubator, you could turn them by just propping up one side of the incubator and then propping up the other side when it's time to turn them. This will alleviate the need to touch 100 eggs but that's if you can get them all stood up and still have some airflow between them

 

[MeepBeep]

you'll need the quail egg rails (it's just the rails you swap not a whole new turner) or manual turn them. 

Yep, about $20 to convert the existing egg turner to a 120 egg quail turner...

Just Google or Ebay 'Quail Egg Racks for HovaBator'

 

[Scooter&Suzie]

Okay, I'll just hand turn them. Or would that lose a lot of heat and humidity since I would be turning 100 eggs? Would that be harmful to have it open that long 3 times a day?

 

[JetCat]

Okay, I'll just hand turn them. Or would that lose a lot of heat and humidity since I would be turning 100 eggs? Would that be harmful to have it open that long 3 times a day?

there won't be any issues at all with turning them by hand the only time you really need to watch humidity is during the hatch and you won't be opening it to turn then.

 

[Scooter&Suzie]

Awesome, thanks, I'll just do that then

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

I would place egg carton cups in the turner cups (cut a smaller hole in the bottom of egg carton cups to allow for air flow). It will probably take a bit to get each cup cut, but it will save you time hand turning 3 times a day...