Quail and quail eggs

[Verna Y]

Thank you Verna Y. This is good to have on hand!

there is info on comparing chicken to quail, as well as chicken eggs to quail eggs.

 

[DowntownHomesteader]

Believe it or not brought mine off ebay out of 48 eggs had a 33 healthy hatch rate xx

I ordered mine off eBay. They are in the incubator right now. 119 eggs (lost one in shipping). I’m hoping for a better than 60% hatch rate.

 

[ChassiNoir]

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.

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.

https://merriquail.com

https://facebook.com/QuailinPetaluma

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.

https://merriquail.com

https://facebook.com/QuailinPetaluma

Thank you so much for sharing the care sheet as well as giving your website address! I have been watching Ravenlover’s threads about her button quail who are gorgeous.

I am hoping in the non-too-distant future to own quail and I would prefer to purchase my eggs from a fellow BYC member. I will certainly keep you in mind!

 

[Nabiki]

Thank you so much for sharing the care sheet as well as giving your website address! I have been watching Ravenlover’s threads about her button quail who are gorgeous.

I am hoping in the non-too-distant future to own quail and I would prefer to purchase my eggs from a fellow BYC member. I will certainly keep you in mind!

Unfortunately, since I'm not NPIP certified, I can only ship them inside California. I have my CA egg handlers' license only.

 

[ChassiNoir]

Unfortunately, since I'm not NPIP certified, I can only ship them inside California. I have my CA egg handlers' license only.

Ah; I see. Well, I’m a bit far away from California by just a thousand miles or so. Oh well. I wish you luck though! Your birds are beautiful!

 

[Nabiki]

Ah; I see. Well, I’m a bit far away from California by just a thousand miles or so. Oh well. I wish you luck though! Your birds are beautiful!

Thank you. When I get my NPIP cert, I'm going to tell everyone here, that's for certain.

 

[ChassiNoir]

Thank you. When I get my NPIP cert, I'm going to tell everyone here, that's for certain.

You should totally! By that time I may finally be ready for quail too!

 

[DowntownHomesteader]

I ordered mine off eBay. They are in the incubator right now. 119 eggs (lost one in shipping). I’m hoping for a better than 60% hatch rate.

Today the hatch started. We count 30 so far. Waiting to get to at least 60 for a 50% hatch rate.

 

[LJHC]

Awesome! Good luck with your hatch. Are you hoping for egg layers or meat?