Teach me to incubate bobwhite eggs

[Danny C.]

Bought on Amazon from Yescom an incubator so now I have my first 80W 56 egg digital incubator that will hold quail eggs as well. Shows humidity, temperature, day, countdown (per 2 hr). Instructions are for chicken eggs and even though have seen various post on timelines, I don’t really have a plan before my bobwhites start laying in late March or so. I know I need to run for week at least and might as well practice.
Experts! I would appreciate something to write down and do this right.
Thanks in advance folks!

 

[feedman77]

I don't do Bob eggs any different than cot, chicken, turkey or pheasant eggs.

Temp of 100. Forced air.

Humidity is area dependant. I've found that low humidity incubation works fine for me. 20 to 30 percent. Til lockdown and hatch. Then raise to 70 plus for hatch.

Bobs take 23 to 24 days to hatch.

I just hatched 170. Bobs 2 weeks ago. I heat with wood so humidity got low a few days but had a 85 to 90 percent hatch of those that made it to lockdown.

Good luck.

 

[Danny C.]

I don't do Bob eggs any different than cot, chicken, turkey or pheasant eggs.

Temp of 100. Forced air.

Humidity is area dependant. I've found that low humidity incubation works fine for me. 20 to 30 percent. Til lockdown and hatch. Then raise to 70 plus for hatch.

Bobs take 23 to 24 days to hatch.

I just hatched 170. Bobs 2 weeks ago. I heat with wood so humidity got low a few days but had a 85 to 90 percent hatch of those that made it to lockdown.

Good luck.

Noted. This will be done in a garage setting that I will be building a pen for. Lost me when said heat with wood. Thank you feedman77

 

[feedman77]

Middle of winter. Heat my house with wood. So humidity was really low inside.

 

[Diamond Dan]

I agree with with previous post good advice

 

[Danny C.]

Middle of winter. Heat my house with wood. So humidity was really low inside.

Gotcha. Appreciate the information. So appears need to check it more often to be sure not too high or too low.

 

[Danny C.]

Oh forgot to add. Have 5 roos and 17 hens. How do I store eggs when start laying? Cause with 7 rails of 8 and if get quail rails then 140 eggs, they will obviously come over period of time. They have been on Game bird chow @ 30% protein, treat also with Groovy Scratch.
Yes, I am a newbie at this of only 2 months so some questions will be probably sound easy for most, but very committed to this new hobby.

 

[feedman77]

Store in a cool place small end down. Turning 2 to 3 times a day. They should have good viability up to 14 days.

But with 17 hens should only take 8 to 9 days to fill the incubator.

 

[Danny C.]

Store in a cool place small end down. Turning 2 to 3 times a day. They should have good viability up to 14 days.

But with 17 hens should only take 8 to 9 days to fill the incubator.

Great. So with that much and 23-24 days incubation, I need quail rails or a lot of eggs to sell or eat. Probably sell to help pay for some of feed. My local feed and seed will buy chicks I found out. This will be fun, can tell already.

 

[feedman77]

Not sure on your state. But permits may be required to sell bobwhite chicks and adults.