Incubating quail eggs for the first time : )

[dc3085]

I've not seen that specific device, but I've seen contraptions similar before. They work good if your hands aren't strong enough to do it barehanded or if you're doing a million. I prefer to use my hands because I feel it keeps the animal calmer than being inserted into a device like that.

Rabbits are a little calmer of demeanor than quail and it didn't seem to bother that bunny too much, but a quail would be losing it in your hand unless you're doing it at lightning speed.

Honestly if you can't do it quickly and humanely in your hands or with scissors you won't be able to do it much better in a device. It's more about mindset than difficulty. As far as easier maybe the bar makes it physically easier but it won't make it any faster, it already takes less than 2 minutes for me to process a bird. I made a couple of videos on processing quickly and humanely, the links are in my signature.

 

[cookiesdaddy]

I'm still just setting up for raising quails. Been looking at different techniques and think I'll use the scissors method. Don't think I can do what DC does But this device scares me! What if out of nervousness or clumsiness you try to swipe your bird quickly against the blade and get your finger or your knuckle caught by the blade? Ouch.

 

[LindsayB]

I'm so mad at myself right now...I was trying to hurry up today and feed my quail before I left the house. I must of forgot to close the door to the hutch...came home just now and they were hunkered down in the grass in the backyard and one was next to the street! I found 4 but 1 is still missing and it's of course the one I was trying to breed for its color. I'm sure an owl or coon will have a nice easy snack tonight ..ugh...

 

[Dragons4u]

That stinks.

 

[Sill]

I'm still just setting up for raising quails. Been looking at different techniques and think I'll use the scissors method. Don't think I can do what DC does But this device scares me! What if out of nervousness or clumsiness you try to swipe your bird quickly against the blade and get your finger or your knuckle caught by the blade? Ouch.

I don't think the blade is sharp. The idea with this type of device is to dislocate the bones of the neck not cut anything.

I've not seen that specific device, but I've seen contraptions similar before. They work good if your hands aren't strong enough to do it barehanded or if you're doing a million. I prefer to use my hands because I feel it keeps the animal calmer than being inserted into a device like that.

Rabbits are a little calmer of demeanor than quail and it didn't seem to bother that bunny too much, but a quail would be losing it in your hand unless you're doing it at lightning speed.

Honestly if you can't do it quickly and humanely in your hands or with scissors you won't be able to do it much better in a device. It's more about mindset than difficulty. As far as easier maybe the bar makes it physically easier but it won't make it any faster, it already takes less than 2 minutes for me to process a bird. I made a couple of videos on processing quickly and humanely, the links are in my signature.

Thanks for the videos, they were very informative. That was the first time I've seen anything but the scissor method for quail.

I'm so mad at myself right now...I was trying to hurry up today and feed my quail before I left the house. I must of forgot to close the door to the hutch...came home just now and they were hunkered down in the grass in the backyard and one was next to the street! I found 4 but 1 is still missing and it's of course the one I was trying to breed for its color. I'm sure an owl or coon will have a nice easy snack tonight ..ugh...

Yikes! At least you found most of your birds. Hope you can round up the last one. Maybe it will be attracted to the other quail and stay nearby? Or if you put out familiar food and water dispensers that might bring it in?

 

[dc3085]

I'm so mad at myself right now...I was trying to hurry up today and feed my quail before I left the house. I must of forgot to close the door to the hutch...came home just now and they were hunkered down in the grass in the backyard and one was next to the street! I found 4 but 1 is still missing and it's of course the one I was trying to breed for its color. I'm sure an owl or coon will have a nice easy snack tonight ..ugh...

Sometimes they come back around the cages or at least near the areas, even if they flew off. I lose them here every now and then, my dog is usually the one that finds them and they aren't useful...or alive anymore after she brings them to me but they seem to come back pretty frequently.

 

[nazredhens]

I've not seen that specific device, but I've seen contraptions similar before. They work good if your hands aren't strong enough to do it barehanded or if you're doing a million. I prefer to use my hands because I feel it keeps the animal calmer than being inserted into a device like that.

Rabbits are a little calmer of demeanor than quail and it didn't seem to bother that bunny too much, but a quail would be losing it in your hand unless you're doing it at lightning speed.

Honestly if you can't do it quickly and humanely in your hands or with scissors you won't be able to do it much better in a device. It's more about mindset than difficulty. As far as easier maybe the bar makes it physically easier but it won't make it any faster, it already takes less than 2 minutes for me to process a bird. I made a couple of videos on processing quickly and humanely, the links are in my signature.

Thanks for making those videos! Very informative and I'm now feeling a little more confident if I have to do it.

 

[Chickety Charcoal]

I've set 52 quail eggs this past weekend. Jumbo brown, A&M and Tuxedo. Hopefully I can keep this incubator consistent enough to get some chicks at the end of the month!

 

[LindsayB]

8 little bitties so far. Still waiting for 8 more to hatch

 

[Magic Birdie]

8 little bitties so far. Still waiting for 8 more to hatch

Cute! The marbles in the water make a smiley face