IM getting my bob white eggs in a few weeks I need help!

[dudekwm]

I orderd 25 Bob White eggs from micmurry hatchery and i have a few questions. How do i handle the eggs before incubation. What is the proper tempiture and humidity? Can I use a standard egg turner that is used for chicken eggs? How many days does it take for them to hatch? And generally what are some things to do and not to do?

Thanks for all your help!!!!!

 

[ken429h]

This looks surprisingly like another post here, but I'll bite.

How do i handle the eggs before incubation.

Pretty much the same way you handle chicken eggs shipped through the mail. Let them rest for about 12 hours+. (No egg juggling allowed )

What is the proper tempiture and humidity?

The same as with chicken eggs, or 99.5-102 deg., 50-60% relative non-condensing humidity for incubation, increased to 60-70+% for hatch.

Can I use a standard egg turner that is used for chicken eggs?

I don't know much about this mythical device that turns your eggs for you but since "quail egg trays/cups sold separately" I'm going to say No. You may have to hand turn your first batch.

How many days does it take for them to hatch?

That question is apparently up for debate, but I'm going to say...23-24. Stop turning or move to hatcher on day 20.

And generally what are some things to do and not to do?

Do pretty much what you did when you successfully hatched other birds like chickens. Don't....Absolutely no egg juggling!

Ken​

 

[dudekwm]

Thank you! you helped me with most of my questions......just one more thing which side up do i put the eggs?

 

[QuailKeeper]

big end up pointy end down

 

[ken429h]

Your welcome dude

I think he was just pulling my leg about which end is up quailkeeper

Ken

 

[dudekwm]

IM sorry lol.......... this is my first time hatching and raising quail


Iv raised chickens and there is a big differance:/

 

[ken429h]

I took a bite, lesson learned.

 

[farrier!]

Quote:
Other then smaller there is not much difference!

A lot easier to roll, I will take quail over chickens any day!!!

 

[ken429h]

Sorry Dudekwm. I thought your question was only about incubation, not raising birds from start to finish. Other than hatch time and special trays or cups goes, They are the same as chicken, but check your incubator instructions to be sure.

I figured other questions would come later and can't really answer all those questions because I'm making some mistakes right now with my pen designs.

I know people use chicken related items like feeder/water, but that is my biggest don't as far as baby quail goes. I know people put marbles/stones and make other mods. to F/W but I say better safe than sorry. Those round chicken feeders that fit on quart jars can be a death trap for baby quail.
If you haven't, I recommend you get feed and water stuff that was especially designed for raising game bird chicks. Most stores that carry poultry items also carry game chick items.

Any other specific questions please ask, because if I don't know the answer, someone here certainly does.


Ken

 

[Mrs MIA]

Here is a good article for raising bobwhites ... it's for mass production, but works the same. Another general article ...

I usually read up on stuff like this before I purchase the eggs, but since you have a couple of days...

*Still air - 101-102°F at egg level, 45-55% humidity.
*Forced air - 99.5-100°F, 45-55% humidity.
*Stop turning at day 20-21, should hatch on day 23, but might take an extra day. Bump the humidity to 65-75%, but it's not critical... my best hatches are the ones I forgot about and they hatched in the turner in the incubator at 45%. (When you see pips, do NOT panic if they don't hatch right away... it is NORMAL for them to take up to 3 days to zip after pipping, and then they will ALL hatch at once... trust me on this!)

If you have an automatic turner for chicken eggs, you cannot use it for quail eggs without modifying it. The holes are too big. BW eggs are about the size of a dime when looking down on them from the big end.
Oh, and the pointy end of an egg, no matter what breed/species, goes down.

Have your brooder set up and ready:

Lamp - you can use a 60w bulb in a Rubbermaid tote and hang it low... just above their heads. You want it to be 95-100°F at their level, but give them an area to get away from the heat if it is too hot for them. They like it warm. If you see them piling under the lamp, it's too cold.

Feed - use un-medicated gamebird starter with the highest protein content you can find. Grind it up to fine cornmeal size until they're larger (about 3 weeks old). It will be too big for them otherwise, and you will lose birds.

Water - Fresh clean water, and it is recommended that you put marbles in it to keep them from drowning. They are TINY when they are born, and seem to like to take swims. There are special quail waterer bottoms, that have a 1/2" trough instead of the 1-2" trough for chicken chicks. Change the water daily, or when dirtied, and use luke-warm water.

Bedding - I've hatched thousands of quail, and the only time I've had problems with spraddle leg is when I DIDN'T use the rubber shelf liner in the hatcher/brooder. If you can, use it for the first week or two. It can be cut to size, thrown in the washing machine with bleach (air dry) and reused many many times. Best stuff since sliced bread.

When your chicks hatch, give them a few hours at least to dry off. Once they're dry and fluffy, and the hatch is complete, move them to your prepared brooder, and give them food and water right away. They do not take 3 days to absorb their yolk sac like chickens do, so they need food right away. Sprinkle a little of the ground food on the floor around the food dish to entice them, but they will find it without any problems.

Bobwhites are cool... you'll like them. Good luck!