Where do you get your quail eggs?

[ChickenChick46]

I’ve hatched chicken, Guinea and quail in my NR 360 incubators, I can recommend them.

Thank you!

 

[thecatumbrella]

If you can find a local source, as for all hatching eggs!, you’ll have better hatch rates, wouldn’t recommend grocery store eggs though! You can use any incubator for quail, just make sure the turner works or hand turning is just fine and definitely use an extra three thermometers. I’ve ordered random eBay eggs and thieving otter eggs, strangely had amazing luck on random eBay eggs (first time hatching anything) but my thieving otter eggs got severe shipping trauma and ended up with saddled air cells and 25% hatch rate. The birds were lovely but nuts, high strung, nervous, or mean (2 week old bully got exiled from the brooder!, two bonked their heads and died in quail safe housing, culled the only hen I kept because she was psycho…), I only kept 1 bird out of 40 eggs! My eBay birds are pretty chill (did cull 14/17 hens for temperament though the first year). Be careful though, they are addicting!

Oh that is so unfortunate about the Thieving Otter order! Do you happen to remember which eBay shop you got your eggs from?

I'm starting to learn how accident-prone and homicidal quail can be, so I'm making encouraging my husband watch all these butchering videos to mentally prepare.

 

[ChickenChick46]

Oh that is so unfortunate about the Thieving Otter order! Do you happen to remember which eBay shop you got your eggs from?

I'm starting to learn how accident-prone and homicidal quail can be, so I'm making encouraging my husband watch all these butchering videos to mentally prepare.

We're on the same page! Sine I'll be buying only straight run chicks or hatching eggs going forward, my husband and I had a long talk about us getting comfortable with culling for meat!

 

[BoundlessLove]

To clarify, the chicken tray slot not the quail tray slot.

 

[Tex452]

Geez. This is what I'm struggling with a bit. It feels like I have to order a ton of eggs to account for a possibly low hatch rate, but knowing my luck, every single egg will hatch and I'll be drowning in quail! I'm impressed they stood by their product, though.

Ah, that makes sense they would have different inserts for egg sizes. You can tell I haven't committed a single brain cell to incubation before today.

Now my breeders have been very fertile, 90-95% hatch rate is the norm for me and the people I have given eggs to.
I try to keep them around 65* in a cooler with ice packs, rotating the eggs a couple times a day. Changing out ice packs 3 times a/day.

 

[BoundlessLove]

Here are some pics of incubating in my NR360:

 

[BoundlessLove]

I also recommend adding shelf liner after you remove the turner.
Just before lockdown.
I use a pencil and trace the tray and cut out AND cut a little hole in the center to fit over the metal piece the turns the tray.

 

[PeaShack]

I believe I might be the only cheapskate here, but I had very good hatch rates from my cheap incubator (I paid only $16.99 on some Amazon special, but it usually runs $30–60.) It is made in China (boo, I know) and is sold under multiple brands on Amazon. The temperature and hygrometer were actually accurate. After the first couple successful hatchings, I stopped using my secondary digital one. I have hatched button quail, chickens, and most recently 4 peafowl (the latter are larger chicks and it still accommodated them).

Hatch rates with eBay or shipped eggs is so variable. The general rule is 50% with an honest seller. Of my original 18 egg eBay order of button quail, 9 hatched. From their fresh eggs (my grand-quail), I would have 90 to 100% hatch rates. Same with the chickens. The eBay peafowl hatch rate was shocking…I had ordered 4 eggs and he gave one extra. All 5 started developing and one quit ~day 12. The others hatched and are 12 weeks old. 80% hatch!

I agree that fresh, local eggs will have better hatch rates. However, if you are looking for a special feather/egg color that can’t be found locally, shipped eggs are certainly worth a try.

 

[ChickenChick46]

I believe I might be the only cheapskate here, but I had very good hatch rates from my cheap incubator (I paid only $16.99 on some Amazon special, but it usually runs $30–60.) It is made in China (boo, I know) and is sold under multiple brands on Amazon. The temperature and hygrometer were actually accurate. After the first couple successful hatchings, I stopped using my secondary digital one. I have hatched button quail, chickens, and most recently 4 peafowl (the latter are larger chicks and it still accommodated them).

Hatch rates with eBay or shipped eggs is so variable. The general rule is 50% with an honest seller. Of my original 18 egg eBay order of button quail, 9 hatched. From their fresh eggs (my grand-quail), I would have 90 to 100% hatch rates. Same with the chickens. The eBay peafowl hatch rate was shocking…I had ordered 4 eggs and he gave one extra. All 5 started developing and one quit ~day 12. The others hatched and are 12 weeks old. 80% hatch!

I agree that fresh, local eggs will have better hatch rates. However, if you are looking for a special feather/egg color that can’t be found locally, shipped eggs are certainly worth a try.

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This is great information, thank you! I've looked at this exact incubator. There are just so many more affordable ones on Amazon, and with varied reviews, I was overwhelmed and scared to pick a bad one.

Also, grand-quail is adorable, and I'm totally going to call chickens my grand-chickens one day!