Sanitizing an incubator: how much is enough?

[le_bwah]

Quail math is pretty dangerous, because you can fit so many more eggs in the incubator since they are smaller than chicken eggs... I figured out I can fit 80 quail eggs in my incubator... then I built a second one, which fits around a hundred... and have plans for a cabinet incubator, which would fit several hundred... Quail are awesome little birds

Hatch day for first incubator was yesterday and today, second incubator eggs will hatch within a week. Below are some of the chicks who hatched.
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So cute! They looks cozy in there. Building a bigger brooder's going to be my next project, and maybe a separate grow-out pen. Quail are so easy to raise and keep, they really are awesome.

 

[RosieR]

So cute! They looks cozy in there. Building a bigger brooder's going to be my next project, and maybe a separate grow-out pen. Quail are so easy to raise and keep, they really are awesome.

I’m thinking kiddy pool with chicken wire (indoors) once they get a week or so old and know how to find heat/food/water

 

[Sara L]

I’m thinking kiddy pool with chicken wire (indoors) once they get a week or so old and know how to find heat/food/water

I use big tubs for when they still need the heat lamp, then move everyone over to puppy play pens once they don't need the light. Gives them more room to stretch their wings and lots of ventilation. You can get 45-48" diameter ones on Amazon for less than $40 usually.

 

[le_bwah]

A pool and play pen are great ideas (I felt bad keeping my first clutch in plastic bins so long, I think they needed more room to stretch). I have a bunch of wood left over from my aviary build, so I'll probably be making something out of that.

 

[RosieR]

I’ve been using large boxes so far but only had a handful of chicks each time. I’ll look into puppy pens. Not bad to have around either way.