Quail egg question

[Mommysongbird]

We have a pair of Bob White Quails, so therefore we only get 1 egg per day, give or take.

The pair is about 8 months old, can the eggs be incubated at this time? If so, how long can I collect to get enough to put in the incubator.

Also I don't have quail rails for the incubator so I would have to turn them myself. How often does that have to be done?

Also after babes hatch, can I put 2 females in with the pair I currently have or does that not work so good? Being the male would be the babes dad.

Sorry, we are still new to quails. We have chickens and ducks but don't know as much about quails.

 

[dc3085]

We have a pair of Bob White Quails, so therefore we only get 1 egg per day, give or take.

The pair is about 8 months old, can the eggs be incubated at this time? If so, how long can I collect to get enough to put in the incubator.

If they are laying they are old enough.

You can save eggs for 7-10 days before hatchability and fertility begin to drop (mark the date on each egg so you know which hatch each time)

Also I don't have quail rails for the incubator so I would have to turn them myself. How often does that have to be done?

3-4 times a day

Also after babes hatch, can I put 2 females in with the pair I currently have or does that not work so good? Being the male would be the babes dad.

Genetic diversity is less you problem than getting them to get along. One generation of parent x offspring isn't going to hurt anything, but don't go too much farther.

You'll have to wait until your new chicks are 5-6 months old before you'll be able to mix them.

Sorry, we are still new to quails. We have chickens and ducks but don't know as much about quails.

Be sure to practice biosecurity between your chickens and quail. Chickens carry many diseases that they will show no symptoms of, but are fatal to quail.

Just don't allow contact between the two species and wash your hands after you handle the chickens.

 

[Mommysongbird]

Thank you so much for the great info. Our quails are about 10 feet away from our chickens and ducks, but we will be moving them out back soon. I will keep the small pen for the babies once they are old enough.

 

[FossilPeak]

Good info. I collect eggs twice a day and put them in the incubator each Monday and hatch on Wednesdays. I've got and 85% hatch rate right now. The only eggs I have trouble with are those that say on the ground too long. By a cheap egg turner and put them on it when you collect them. Keep them in a cool room and they'll go 7-10 days no problem.

 

[Mommysongbird]

Good info. I collect eggs twice a day and put them in the incubator each Monday and hatch on Wednesdays. I've got and 85% hatch rate right now. The only eggs I have trouble with are those that say on the ground too long. By a cheap egg turner and put them on it when you collect them. Keep them in a cool room and they'll go 7-10 days no problem.

Should I turn them while they are being collected?

What is a "cheap" egg turner???

 

[FossilPeak]

Perhaps cheap was a relative term...you can get the turner for the hovabator for about $40 make sure it's got quail rails. Yes, put them on the turner as soon as you collect them or turn your collected eggs by hand three or four times a day.

 

[Mommysongbird]

We have a Little Giant incubator. I THOUGHT Tractor Supply carried the quail rails, but they don't, so I have to order some. I will do it by had this first time, then next I will have the rails.

thanks