Incubation?

[ScoutingInTheWoods]

Ok so it seems everyone uses incubators,why? And do you have to or would the quail just sit on them? I am New so i have a lot of questions. Does the quail lay eggs when the other eggs hatched or what?

 

[Evelyn Walker]

If you are referring to Coturnix quail, no, they will not incubate the eggs. It's extremely rare, and they're usually lousy brooders anyway. You'll need an incubator if you want to hatch out eggs.

 

[ScoutingInTheWoods]

If you are referring to Coturnix quail, no, they will not incubate the eggs. It's extremely rare, and they're usually lousy brooders anyway. You'll need an incubator if you want to hatch out eggs.

why would they not sit on the eggs?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

It depends on the species of quail.
Most people use an incubator so the eggs hatch on their schedule and not the birds' schedule.
There may also not be enough room. A single turner will hold about 120 eggs. It would take a lot of quail moms and nests to incubate that many.

 

[rlchatham]

This instinct to incubate and brood has been bred out of the quail. A lot has been lost. Most will not even survive outside of human invention.

 

[ScoutingInTheWoods]

This instinct to incubate and brood has been bred out of the quail. A lot has been lost. Most will not even survive outside of human invention.

could that be bread back in?

 

[hkirchn]

Not likely in a short period of time....

 

[rlchatham]

could that be bread back in?

I guess its always worth a try. I always get excited when i see hens sitting on eggs, but, it is very short lived. They appear to be building a nest and sitting on the eggs and the next thing you know they have abandoned the nest. Its a roller coaster of emotions lol. We can always hope but realistically theres only a small fraction of a chance. ‍

 

[ChickenCanoe]

That would take a long time and you'd have to start will a broody hen. If it isn't instinctive to the line then nothing you could do would bring that back unless being really lucky.

 

[ScoutingInTheWoods]

I guess its always worth a try. I always get excited when i see hens sitting on eggs, but, it is very short lived. They appear to be building a nest and sitting on the eggs and the next thing you know they have abandoned the nest. Its a roller coaster of emotions lol. We can always hope but realistically theres only a small fraction of a chance. ‍

Is that just been bred out then,and what would be good signs to breed it back in?