Recently I’ve been receiving numerous requests to discuss more on incubating eggs and the various types of birds you can raise on a small farm whether it be for profit or for pleasure.
Today’s post is about hatching quail eggs. In later posts I’ll discuss raising quail. As quail come in many different sizes and requirements I have typed out the requirements for each below. As incubators can be a little different from one another please check your owner’s manual for specific instructions. I am not a vet and this is not to be considered as veterinary advice.
However, I am very excited about the possibility of all the new spring chicks. I just pulled my own incubator out of its storage box today too. The incubator I use is a Hova-Bator, Circulated Air Incubator with Picture Window
| Breed of Quail | Incubation / Days | Temperature | Humidity | Stop Turning Eggs |
| Benson | 22 | 99.5 | 60-65% | 20 |
| Blue Scaled | 23 | 99.5 | 60-65% | 21 |
| Bobwhite | 22-23 | 99.5 | 60-65% | 20 |
| Button | 16 | 99.5 | 60-65% | 14 |
| California Valley | 22-23 | 99.5 | 60-65% | 20 |
| Coturnix | 16-18 | 99.5 | 60-65% | 14 |
| Gambels | 22 | 99.5 | 60-65% | 20 |
| Mearns | 24-25 | 99.5 | 60-65% | 23 |
| Mountain | 24-25 | 99.5 | 60-65% | 23 |
If you don’t have an automatic turner on your incubator you need to turn your quail eggs at least twice a day to keep the embryo moving around in the shell after the third day of incubation. Then stop turning them 3 days before they’re scheduled to hatch.
On the tenth day or so you can candle the quail eggs to see if they are viable as well as watching them grow. In a darkened room and using a strong flashlight, shine the light directly on each side of the egg. The shape of the growing chick can then be seen within the eggs.
Before the chicks hatch get a bag of starter quail food. If your feed supply store doesn’t carry this, go for a turkey starter ration as the button quail are a game bird and therefore will need a higher protein feed than chicken starter. If you get the turkey starter in crumble form instead of mash you’ll need to crush it up a bit before you give it to your newly hatched quail eggs.
Let me know how your incubation of the eggs go or ask any questions you have in the comment form below.
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The incubator at left is similar to the one we used at school. It is fun and cute but you have to turn the eggs yourself and the success rate isn’t as high as using my tried and true Hova-Bator. The dome incubator at left is also nearly twice the price but I decided to show it to you just so you know where to find them, if you really have your heart set on one. Click the image to check current sales. |
