newbie on quail! what to do what to do LOL

[sarabeth]

Well.... I just put 70 quail eggs and 5 bantam cochin eggs in the incubator tonight! LOL Guess it's go big or go home (even on a first time setting quail eggs) Now I have to figure out how to build a brooder and a quail hutch in 14-18 days. Hmmmmm....... Did anyone else put any eggs in the incubator today? I may need some help I haven't ever had quail before!

 

[James the Bald]

You know they each have different incubation periods? On the brooder and hutch, there are plenty of pics in the forum, all you have to do is do an advanced search.
Keep us posted on how things turn out.
James

 

[sarabeth]

I have read the hat it takes anywhere from 15 to 18 days on quail. I am gonna put the banty eggs in a carton and rig something up to turn them while the quail hatch. My Bantu eggs aren't much bigger than my quail eggs. My husbands friend gave me the eggs and whatever hatches I will half with him.

 

[dc3085]

What James is getting at is we need to know what kind of quail. Button quail hatch in 16 days, coturnix 17-19, bobwhites and most other new world quail 22-23 days.

 

[James the Bald]

I copied and pasted this Incubation Chart from Sally Sunshines article on hatching eggs. While you haven't said which species of quail eggs you have, I am assuming they are coturnix. As you can see, the incubation period is different for chicken and coturnix. You will still have your bantams eggs in the incubator when the quail hatch. It is still possible for both to hatch, but you will put your bantam eggs at risk when you open the incubator to remove your quail (opening the incubator once to remove all quail). The longer the incubator is open, the greater the chances that the membrane will "shrink wrap" your bantam chicks inside the shell as the humidity is lost.

This can be a learning experience if you plan to do this again in the future... You would need to put the bantam eggs in first, then 4 days later, add the quail eggs. This way, both species will go into lock down at the same time as well as hatch at the same time.
James

Species

Incub. Period (days)

Temp (F.)¹

Do not turn
after
Chicken

21

100

18th day
Turkey

28

99

25th day
Duck

28

100

25th day
Muscovy Duck

35-37

100

31st day
Goose

28-34

99

25th day
Guinea Fowl

26-28

100

25th day
Pheasant

23-28

100

21st day
Peafowl

28-30

99

25th day
Bobwhite Quail

23-24

100

20th day
Coturnix Quail

17

100

15th day
Chukar

23-24

100

20th day
Grouse

25

100

22nd day
Pigeon

17

100

15th day​

 

[sarabeth]

I just found out they are coturnix. Sorry it took so long for me to respond.

 

[sarabeth]

Thanks for the info on when to put the bantam eggs in. I'm not even sure if they will hatch the shell is really thin. I just got these bantys.

 

[sarabeth]

Ok I just put the quail on lockdown!! Now the waiting game begins!

 

[dc3085]

Good luck!

 

[Quail Jailer]

My husbands friend gave me the eggs and whatever hatches I will half with him.

Good luck! but what if theres only one?