Let's plan a Quail egg hatch... set 'em Sept. 1, hatch 'em Sept 17-19+

Gathering, Setting and Incubation.

how many are ya'll setting?
30-50

what kind of bator ya'll got? Hovabator 1588 (incubator) and Hovabator 1583 (hatcher)

incubation tips? Don't forget to take the eggs off the turner
tongue.png


lockdown day? Around the 15th I guess, if I don't forget to move them

humidity? Humidity during incubation: around 30%; humidity during hatch: around 80%

think back to your first Quail hatch, what have you learned? let's get some data?, personal experience?. Would like to know timing of year, did it rain on your hatch day? data, data, for the rooks and vets.
First hatch was I believe in August or September. All shipped eggs: 20 button quail (from AL) and 18 (I think) 'A&M' coturnix (from LA). I don't remember the weather then, but I was using a homemade incubator and it was a disaster. Had 1 button and 2 coturnix hatch. Actually, I had an LG for incubating but had a homemade hatcher. Most of the unhatched eggs were either clear (no development) or DIS.
Second hatches were much better.
Button quail eggs (shipped from AK). Hatched on Thanksgiving day. 50 eggs sent, 20 eggs clear, 19 of 30 'good' eggs hatched. Jumbo brown coturnix eggs (shipped from KY but took a week to get here). Hatched Dec. 27th. 4 eggs of 25 were broken on arrival, 18 of 21 'good' eggs hatched. These were also in the LG but without the homemade hatcher.
 
Last edited:
Gathering, Setting and Incubation.

how many are ya'll setting? 240-300

what kind of bator ya'll got? Hovabator Genesis, LG, and a Cabinet

incubation tips? I just shove them in their turners, leave the temp 99.5 and humidity 50-60% and I am good to go...and I don't bother until 3 days before hatch.

lockdown day? September 15

humidity? Humidity during incubation: around 50%; humidity during hatch: around 60%, the humidity does rise as the chicks pip and hatch. I just keep the bowls and pans full during hatch time.

think back to your first Quail hatch, what have you learned? let's get some data?, personal experience?. Would like to know timing of year, did it rain on your hatch day? data, data, for the rooks and vets.

First quail hatch on my own:, I was in the midst of studying for a biochemistry exam and at the same time had a quail hatch going on...no hatch. WHY? I forgot to add water to the incubator!
barnie.gif
he.gif
Note to self, fill water in the bator and then study, because what's more important the joys of hatching or your grade
lau.gif
gig.gif


I got to play with really old cabinet incubators at OSU. The trays were not made for quail eggs at all so clothes pins were used to hold eggs in the trays while they turn. So lesson number two: you don't need fancy schmancy equipment to hatch eggs
big_smile.png
 
Quote:
This is a TD test, Im just a spectator of his experiment. My curiosity is the weight loss of the egg during the holding time. I'v a hypothesis that the eggs weigh loss will be directly related to the humidity in the holding cooler. But thats just a guess. we'll see.....
pop.gif


Its my intention to set 3 dozen Italians for the hatch-a-long...Alex is going send me some just before the set date. I have been want'n some purdy yellow ones that dont have to be big or boneless.... those wont be for eat'n as much as my "just cuz I like'm" birds... Bill

We watch hens at the farm, bury their eggs in nice cool dirt until they are ready to set on em...

I believe your hypothesis may hold Quail water.

I did weigh chicken eggs before incubation and at lockdown, they did lose an appreciable amount of weight ~12%. The older eggs did not lose as much weight during incubation, I theorized that the eggs laid at a week before had lost weight while I was storing them. (on the counter, in a cool house)

I also think, imho, a percentage of fluid must be available for every one of the thousands of biochemical reactions taking place within the egg shell during the incubation process. so keeping the eggs from losing mass is the goal, and I think Dr. _Randall's procedure will definitely play here.

and cool deal on the Italians! pretty birds.
 
Gathering, Setting and Incubation.

how many are ya'll setting? 5-7(gotta join in on this!)
what kind of bator ya'll got? Homemade...coolerbator
incubation tips? when using homemade, make sure the bulb doesn't melt to the side D:
lockdown day? 15th
humidity? 40%, lockdown 80%+

think back to your first Quail hatch, what have you learned? let's get some data?, personal experience?. Would like to know timing of year, did it rain on your hatch day? data, data, for the rooks and vets.
Just finished my first hatch, manual turner, very exciting, and beyond MOST! LET THEM BE.!
 
Last edited:
HOW MUCH FUN!!

I use 2 hovabator's - 1588 with egg turner.

I will plan to sit 40-50 eggs.

This is my first year with quail. I have had close to an 80% hatch rate. It took me a while to get the humidity at the correct level.

Will plan on Sept. 1 unless I hear/read otherwise.

thumbsup.gif
 
Last edited:
Gathering, Setting and Incubation.

how many are ya'll setting?
60ish (depends on how many arrive safe and sound once the postal service is done playing football with the box)

what kind of bator ya'll got? Brinsea Octagon 20 Eco with auto turner ( two of them.. but only using 1 for this hatch )

incubation tips? try to keep temps around 99.5 for forced air and humidity within range other than that leave them alone!

lockdown day? September 15th

humidity? Humidity during incubation: around 50%; humidity during hatch: 60+%

think back to your first Quail hatch, what have you learned? let's get some data?, personal experience?. Would like to know timing of year, did it rain on your hatch day? data, data, for the rooks and vets.
dayum... y'all want me to remember THAT far back?
th.gif
... I guess the main thing I remember is that for a chicken.. the chicks are slow hatching.. they take their time.. but once quail get going it's like watching popcorn pop!
 
great work all, I know its still a minute away... 13 days before some even get to start collecting eggs, 20+ for others, but this way we can all plan and get situated for the lil event. invite your friends!

Sounds like we will have several species and varieties of Quail.

Bobwhite
Button
Coturnix- many colors
Harlequin

and any tips for folks reading along on cleaning your incubators? soap and water? vinegar/water solution? tek-trol?

thanks!
 
I use a 5 step process when I clean an incubator..

1) clean out all the loose gunk
2) wash with a mild dish detergent to get the rest of the gunk and then rinse
3) when it LOOKS clean I wash it again with vinegar and rinse
4) wash again with baking soda mixed with water and rinse
5) wash a final time with hydrogen peroxide and rinse, dry and then let air dry to remove any excess dampness


yup sounds like a lot of work.. but at least i know it's clean!
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom