Winter08
Chirping
What websites are the best for buying quail eggs to hatch? Also does anyone have any tips on quail in general?
Quail and quail eggs
- Thread starter Winter08
- Start date
A lot of us here like Myshire Farm. I also just got an order from K.Dale Coturnix. I'm pasting my hatching tips and my quail tips sheets that I give to customer here.
Quail incubation is 17 days.
Incubator choice:
The best incubators have forced air circulation and an automatic egg turner, but other than that, it depends on how many you want to hatch. Don't trust the thermometer or hygrometer on your incubator! Have at least one calibrated thermometer and hygrometer inside. I use three thermometers because every incubator has warm and cold spots.
Incubation:
Temperature should be 99.5-100 degrees, humidity about 30%. Eggs need to be turned every 3-6 hours, which is why you should have an egg turner in your incubator. On day 14, the eggs should go into lockdown, which is where you take the egg turner out and prepare for the eggs to hatch. You should have some sort of grippy flooring such as shelf liner or rough paper towels to help the chicks learn to walk.
Hatching:
When the eggs begin to hatch, the humidity should go up to around 45-55%. Try to keep it there or a little higher. Don't let it get too high, or the chicks might drown. Once they are dry move your chicks to a brooder.
Brooding:
Chicks will need to be kept in a brooder until about 3 weeks of age. There should be a warm side and a cool side. Start the temperature at 95-100 degrees on the warm side and start lowering the temperature a couple degrees each day. If they huddle together, they are cold and the temperature needs to be raised. If they are laying stretched out or panting, they are hot and the temperature needs to be lowered.
For new chicks less than 2 weeks old:
Housing:
Chicks will need to be kept in a brooder until about 3 weeks of age. There should be a warm side and a cool side. Keep the temperature between 85-95 degrees in the warm side. The younger the chicks, the higher the temperature they need. If they huddle together, they are cold and the temperature needs to be raised. If they are laying stretched out or panting, they are hot and the temperature needs to be lowered.
Food:
Chicks need a feed with around 28% protein. The amount of protein can be lowered once they are over 8 weeks old. The feed needs to be fine enough for them to eat. They should always have fresh water.
For adult birds:
Housing:
Coturnix quail are quite hardy and can handle freezing temperatures as long as they are dry and have shelter (boxes or some type of small container works). The minimum amount of space is one square foot per bird, but more is better. Remember to subtract the space taken up by food and water from their living space. They are ground birds and are happiest on the ground. If you give them a wire bottom hutch, make sure they have boxes of dirt for baths and to rest their feet.
Food:
Quail thrive on high protein food of around 28%, but can go as low as 20% once they are fully grown. Adult hens will need calcium either offered on the side or part of their feed. If it is offered on the side, it must be ground small enough for them to eat easily. If it is part of their feed, it should be about 3.5% calcium.
Feel free to contact me with any questions.
Incubation Tips
Quail incubation is 17 days.
Incubator choice:
The best incubators have forced air circulation and an automatic egg turner, but other than that, it depends on how many you want to hatch. Don't trust the thermometer or hygrometer on your incubator! Have at least one calibrated thermometer and hygrometer inside. I use three thermometers because every incubator has warm and cold spots.
Incubation:
Temperature should be 99.5-100 degrees, humidity about 30%. Eggs need to be turned every 3-6 hours, which is why you should have an egg turner in your incubator. On day 14, the eggs should go into lockdown, which is where you take the egg turner out and prepare for the eggs to hatch. You should have some sort of grippy flooring such as shelf liner or rough paper towels to help the chicks learn to walk.
Hatching:
When the eggs begin to hatch, the humidity should go up to around 45-55%. Try to keep it there or a little higher. Don't let it get too high, or the chicks might drown. Once they are dry move your chicks to a brooder.
Brooding:
Chicks will need to be kept in a brooder until about 3 weeks of age. There should be a warm side and a cool side. Start the temperature at 95-100 degrees on the warm side and start lowering the temperature a couple degrees each day. If they huddle together, they are cold and the temperature needs to be raised. If they are laying stretched out or panting, they are hot and the temperature needs to be lowered.
Coturnix basic care sheet
For new chicks less than 2 weeks old:
Housing:
Chicks will need to be kept in a brooder until about 3 weeks of age. There should be a warm side and a cool side. Keep the temperature between 85-95 degrees in the warm side. The younger the chicks, the higher the temperature they need. If they huddle together, they are cold and the temperature needs to be raised. If they are laying stretched out or panting, they are hot and the temperature needs to be lowered.
Food:
Chicks need a feed with around 28% protein. The amount of protein can be lowered once they are over 8 weeks old. The feed needs to be fine enough for them to eat. They should always have fresh water.
For adult birds:
Housing:
Coturnix quail are quite hardy and can handle freezing temperatures as long as they are dry and have shelter (boxes or some type of small container works). The minimum amount of space is one square foot per bird, but more is better. Remember to subtract the space taken up by food and water from their living space. They are ground birds and are happiest on the ground. If you give them a wire bottom hutch, make sure they have boxes of dirt for baths and to rest their feet.
Food:
Quail thrive on high protein food of around 28%, but can go as low as 20% once they are fully grown. Adult hens will need calcium either offered on the side or part of their feed. If it is offered on the side, it must be ground small enough for them to eat easily. If it is part of their feed, it should be about 3.5% calcium.
Feel free to contact me with any questions.
- Thread starter
- #3
Winter08
Chirping
Thank you! This helps a lot
Sammi_0411
Crowing
Believe it or not brought mine off ebay out of 48 eggs had a 33 healthy hatch rate xx
shrimpsilkies
Songster
- Feb 1, 2020
- 362
- 669
- 161
I have quail from Myshire and from the first result for hatching quail eggs on Amazon! The Myshire ones ended up on the boring side of the fancy colors and the Amazon ones are super cuddly and better layers. They were my first hatch and all female, happy little birds.
Even if you don’t plan on keeping them as pets I advise taming them to the point where you can pick them up without chasing and check for problems, they’re generally very healthy but can be prone to foot issues I have noticed, and since they’re so small once you grab one you can do a complete health check very quickly. If you’re not squeamish about live bugs I recommend getting crickets or mealworms and start giving them treats early, cut up mealworms at one week old so they can digest easier. They will love you for it!
Even if you don’t plan on keeping them as pets I advise taming them to the point where you can pick them up without chasing and check for problems, they’re generally very healthy but can be prone to foot issues I have noticed, and since they’re so small once you grab one you can do a complete health check very quickly. If you’re not squeamish about live bugs I recommend getting crickets or mealworms and start giving them treats early, cut up mealworms at one week old so they can digest easier. They will love you for it!
LJHC
Songster
Thanks for the tips. I may try the mealworms with my five chicks. I've also got 25 eggs in the incubator from MyShire.
rangehen
Chirping
I have three bloodlines currently - jumbo wilds from Myshire Farm, Italians from K Dale Coturnix, and a cross of the two. The Myshire birds are huge and very calm, the ones from K Dale Coturnix are flightier but slightly better layers, and I’m hoping the cross combines the best traits of both.
Verna Y
Crazy as ever and blessed.
Found the whole truth. LOL.
https://g.co/kgs/qvCjQG
Nutrition Facts
Quail, breast, meat only, rawQuail, cookedQuail, meat and skin, rawQuail, meat only, rawQuail, cooked
Sources include: USDA
https://g.co/kgs/qvCjQG
Nutrition Facts
Quail, breast, meat only, rawQuail, cookedQuail, meat and skin, rawQuail, meat only, rawQuail, cooked
Sources include: USDA
| Amount Per 1 oz (28.4 g)100 grams1 lb (453 g)1 oz (28.4 g) |
| Calories 65 |
| % Daily Value* | |
| Total Fat 4 g | 6% |
| Saturated fat 1.1 g | 5% |
| Polyunsaturated fat 1 g | |
| Monounsaturated fat 1.4 g | |
| Cholesterol 24 mg | 8% |
| Sodium 15 mg | 0% |
| Potassium 61 mg | 1% |
| Total Carbohydrate 0 g | 0% |
| Dietary fiber 0 g | 0% |
| Sugar 0 g | |
| Protein 7 g | 14% |
| Vitamin A | 1% | Vitamin C | 1% |
| Calcium | 0% | Iron | 7% |
| Vitamin D | 0% | Vitamin B-6 | 10% |
| Cobalamin | 1% | Magnesium | 1% |
| *Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs. |
LJHC
Songster
Thank you Verna Y. This is good to have on hand!
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