The first step: proper incubation

For beginners, achieving a successful hatch rate starts with proper incubation. Learn the crucial steps to ensure your Coturnix Quail eggs develop optimally, setting the foundation for a thriving flock. From temperature to humidity, we cover it all to maximize your chances of success.

Incubation 

First know your incubator. All incubators are different and require different temperature and humidity settings. Most incubators come with instructions how to hatch each different type of egg.

If you do not know your incubator's instructions.  Best practice is to have a temperature and humidity gauge placed next to your hatching eggs at egg level.  Coturnix Quail Eggs have good hatch rates with 99.5 degrees Fahrenheit through the incubation of average 17-18 days. Also with a 45-55% humidity for the first 14 days, then 55-75% humidity for the remaining days of the lockdown period where eggs should no longer be turned. 

Hatch Rates of 70-80% are common with Coturnix Quail! 

Coturnix Quail Hatching guide : 

step 1 :   Once you receive your hatching eggs have them rest pointy end down for 12-24 hours to allow the air bubble to settle to the broad round end of the egg. Also ensure they are at room temperature to prepare for the warmth of the incubator not to temperature shock them to ensure the best hatch rate possible. 

step 2:    Place Hatching Eggs in the incubator.
average incubator temperature- 99.5 Fahrenheit 

Average17-18 days to hatch.   Day 1-14 turning eggs a full turn at least 4 times a day- humidity 45-55% recommended.   Day 15-18 is lockdown period/ no turning and humidity of 55-75%

Set the required temperature and humidity for your incubator.  Ensure your settings are correct for the amount of days for the incubator to run as well. 20-21 days should be efficient run time for most incubators.  Most Quail chicks will hatch before 19 days.  After that the chance of healthy hatchlings deminishes greatly. Hence, the importance of having a reliable incubator set correctly and temperature and humidity settings are trusted. An extra temperature/ humidity gauge next to hatching eggs is strongly recommended.

step 3 :  lockdown period - (day 15-18)

DO NOT OPEN THE INCUBATOR DURING LOCKDOWN. Doing so can let out humidy quickly shrink wrapping chicks in their eggs by drying the membrane.  

Egg temperature- 99.5 Fahrenheit.                    Humidity -  55-75%

This is the crucial period of incubation where temperatures and humidity need to remain within the correct ranges.  Embryos are sensitive and mortally vulnerable at this time.   Stop turning eggs and ensure no temperature fluctuations or humidity fluctuations change too drastically. 
Watch them hatch usually starting on day 17 but some may start as early as day 15 on rare instances. The majority of healthy hatchlings should finish hatching between day 18-19. 

Step 4 :  Getting Hatchlings in Brooder

Allow at least 24 hours after first chicks hatch to get the first batch of hatchlings in the brooder. This is for chicks to dry and lessen chances of  remaining hatchlings being shrink wrapped in their shells.  Depending on your hatch size, there may or may not be more hatching continuing. If so, allow each batch of hatchlings to dry and fluff up before taking them to their brooder. This prevents them getting chilled. Chicks are sensitive their first days of life but do grow fast.  

Brooding Quail Chicks

Essential Brooder Supplies

Heat plates, Heat lamps, brooder boxes, no-drown  chick waterers,  gamebird starter feed 30% protein 

-Brooder surface temperature should be 98-100 Fahrenheit for the first couple of days then dropped to 97-95 Fahrenheit for the remainder of week 1.  

-The temperature will need to be dropped 5 degrees each week until week 4 when chicks are fully feathered and can regulate their own body temperature.  

- Make sure chicks do not get cold, run out of water or food.   They grow fast and need proper care to support their fast growth.  Watch chicks closely, they let you know if they are cold or hot by moving toward or away from the brooder heat source. 

Raising Coturnix Quail

-At the 4-6 week mark, Coturnix Quail are ready to be placed in their breeding, laying or finishing areas. At this age they are becoming mature and need to be separated from young birds. 

-Hens will readily lay eggs without roosters present. 
- A group/covey for breeding purposes does best for temperament and egg fertility at an average 5 hen per 1 rooster ratio.  Separate cage sections for coveys helps regulate this as well.

JUMBO CREEK QUAIL FARM RECOMMENDED

A great Laying hen feed is a gamebird crumble feed  with 2.8 -3.8% calcium and 22-26% protein 

A great growing quail feed is a gamebird crumble feed with .75-1.5% calcium and 28-30% protein.