I didn't have much luck with hatching eggs. Spent about $300 for 10 eggs and managed to get 1 hatch which died a week later. Most of what I read online stated to start with mealworms, etc. In talking with the gentleman that I purchased the pair from, he states that it is just a matter of dipping each chicks beak in the water and then in the crumbles to get them to eat. The one that I did have hatch was eating/drinking fine, so not sure what happened that caused the loss at 7 days. I have since purchased a GQF commercial quality incubator $900+ since my Coturnix quail sales are increasing, and hoping that the mearns pair I have now will lay some fertile eggs in a few months.