Incubating quail eggs is a cheap and fun way to add backyard poultry to your home. These cute birds are not only easy to care for but a fun family addition that will add a nutritional boost to your backyard gardening adventures.
I love relying on the food I grow in my small backyard to feed my family.
I do not have a lot of space and rely heavily on growing in containers and renting out a plot in my community’s organic garden to do so.
That being said, I have longed for the ability to harvest fresh eggs that can be incorporated into breakfast and other dishes.
Raising hens in the backyard is out of the question. I simply do not have the space.
After some deep dive reading, I settled on raising the adorable Cortunix quail.
These diminutive birds have quickly become popular backyard flock additions thanks to their friendly nature, low maintenance requirements, and delicious eggs.
If you too are looking to expand your farming repertoire with an easy to keep bird, this blog post, we will walk through you through the way to incubating quail eggs successfully.
Helpful Items When Hatching Cortunix Quail Eggs
Understanding Cortunix Quail Eggs
Cortunix quail, commonly referred to as Japanese quail, are small game birds native to Asia.
They are beloved by backyard poultry keepers due to their small size, fast maturity rate and prolific egg production rates.
Unlike chickens, quail reach sexual maturity at six weeks of age and will lay an egg a day.
Cortunix quail eggs pack plenty of nutrients while their delicate flavor and creamy texture makes them highly prized.
Their eggs are much smaller than a typical chicken egg. In fact, three Cortunix eggs are the equivalent of one chicken egg.
However, each quail egg is packed with up to four times the protein per gram of a typical chicken egg.
Incubating quail eggs at home can be both rewarding and educational experience for anyone interested in poultry keeping.
There is something to be said about watching life form before your very eyes.
It is both awe inspiring and a delicate process that in my opinion should be experienced by anyone wishing to raise birds.
Plus, home hatching quail eggs offers several advantages.
First, it enables you to control every step in the hatching process and ensure eggs are handled carefully.
Secondly, it may be more cost-effective than purchasing chicks or mature birds.
In my area, I wan’t even able to procure mature birds because there were none available.
Finally, you get to experience raising your own flock from its very beginning.
Anatomy of An Egg
An egg contains three components – its yolk, its egg white, and a membrane – with the former providing essential nutrition to an embryo developing inside.
Its counterpart protects it from bacteria or contaminants; while a thin, transparent membrane sits between its inner core and outer layer protecting both.
When incubating quail eggs it’s important to make sure the outer shell is not cracked.
We don’t want to introduce what could be otherwise harmful bacteria during the incubation period.
Preparing for Incubation
Preparing to incubate Cortunix quail eggs successfully involves several crucial steps.
These include selecting reliable eggs, ensuring proper storage and handling methods and procuring an incubator. Here’s everything you should know:
Selecting Fertile Eggs:
Before beginning incubation of quail eggs, it’s essential that you source fertile eggs from reputable sources.
Egg quality will have a direct bearing on hatching success.
You have two options here – either purchase fertilized eggs from an established breeder/hatchery, or breed your own birds.
I had no birds to breed, so my only option was to start off with an established breeder.
I found one through ebay. The reviews of this breeder were excellent and the price was right.
When selecting fertile eggs, look for a breeder that has excellent reviews online.
When the eggs arrive, they should be uniform in shape and size without cracks or other deformities.
You can use a candling device or bright light to verify this quality and determine whether they are indeed fertile.
Proper Egg Storage and Handling:
Proper egg storage and handling practices are essential to the viability and success when incubating quail eggs.
When the eggs arrive, they should be placed in a cool, dry area away from direct sunlight, drafts, and extreme temperatures.
Make sure the eggs are kept upside -pointy end down to help prevent their yolk from settling onto its inner membrane and sticking therein.
Choosing the Right Incubator
Selecting an incubator when incubating quail eggs is of great importance.
There are many models on the market, each offering distinct advantages and disadvantages.
Still-air incubators provide one viable option, using light bulb or heating element heat to warm eggs in an incubator.
While these devices may be cheap and easy to use, they often create hot and cool spots which reduce hatch rates.
Forced-air incubators employ fans to circulate air, maintaining an even temperature throughout.
They typically offer higher hatch rates than still-air incubators but may cost more.
Cabinet incubators feature precise temperature and humidity controls and can house hundreds of eggs; however, these units tend to be the more costly option and may be overkill for smaller quail hatching operations such as a typical backyard keeper of birds.
When selecting an incubator, carefully consider your budget, number of eggs to hatch and desired level of temperature and humidity control.
For my purposes, I used this incubator I purchased from ebay and it has served me well.
I will outline how I use it further in this post because there are some tips and tricks I have discovered along the way.
That being said, there were other models such as the Kebonnix incubator that were recommended but I needed an incubator to house a few more eggs.
Spend some time reading reviews online and settle on an incubator you feel will serve you best.
As with anything in life, you get what you pay for and incubators are no different.
Besides your egg purchase, the selecting an appropriate incubator for your needs is important to a successful hatching.
Setting Up the Incubator
Here are a few steps that should help ensure success when incubating quail eggs:
1. Temperature, Humidity and Ventilation Settings:
Ensuring optimal conditions is vital to achieving a successful hatch from Cortunix quail eggs.
Optimum temperatures for Cortunix eggs range between 37degC (98.6degF) to 39degC (102.2degF). Humidity should be kept at 40%-45% humidity for the first 15 days of the hatch.
During lock down (days 16-18), humidity levels should be hiked up to 65%.
Ventilation needs to also be addressed to eliminate carbon dioxide produced by embryos for fresh air intake and removal from their environment.
2. Calibration and Monitoring:
Before placing the eggs into an incubator, it is crucial that temperature and humidity levels are accurate.
Use a calibration kit or digital thermometer/hygrometer to make sure both thermometer and hygrometer read accurately.
I used these digital thermometers/ hygrometers from amazon.
Monitoring temperature and humidity regularly throughout the incubation period is an important part to the hatch.
Any fluctuation in temperature should be addressed quickly.
2. Tips for Maintaining Proper Humidity Levels during Incubation:
To achieve the ideal humidity levels during incubation, add water slowly into the incubator reservoirs.
The reservoirs are located in the lowest compartment of the incubator. In my personal incubator, I found that filling a shot glass with water maintains a proper humidity level of 45% during days 1-15.
After lock down, I switch the shot glass out for a large coffee mug. It allows me to keep my levels at 60-65% without having to worry about the humidity dipping.
If using the reservoirs, adding small amounts each day should avoid sudden spikes or drops in humidity.
An alternative method would be placing a sponge or cloth inside and wetting it periodically so as to achieve ideal levels.
Incubating Quail Eggs
Once your incubator is set up, it’s time to incubate your quail eggs!
As part of incubation, it’s crucial that eggs be turned regularly during incubation to prevent their embryo from adhering too tightly to their eggshell and leading to deformities or even death.
Most incubators today come with automatic egg turners.
I highly suggest you spend the extra money to make sure your incubator does too. If not, hand turning the eggs is an option that works well.
A good rule of thumb for turning your eggs is three to five times daily. This mimics how a mother quails would turn hers.
Below are some guidelines:
Before placing the eggs into an incubator, use a marker to mark one side of each egg on one side only.
Maintain an even number of rotations throughout each day so they spend equal time on both sides.
Turning gently while avoiding sudden or abrupt movements that might damage embryo development is key for successful hatching of any potential eggs.
If you forget to turn your eggs for one day, don’t panic – it won’t necessarily hurt the embryos and these guidelines should ensure a successful hatch and healthy chicks.
Days 1-15
Days 1-15, Keep the temperature consistent at 99.5 F (37.5 C).
Humidity should be 45% and your eggs will need to be turned up to five times a day.
On day 16 when preparing eggs for lock down, I like to add sandpaper to the egg tray area of the incubator.
Quail legs are tiny and they can sometimes fall through the holes in the crate.
By lining them with sandpaper, the quail have less of a chance of falling through and getting hurt.
Lockdown: Days 16-18
During lockdown, you will have to take the eggs off the automatic turner if you had one in your incubator.
The eggs should no longer be turned and the incubator should no longer be opened.
The drop in humidity from opening the incubator will cause the chicks to shrinkwrap themselves in their shells.
Keep humidity levels at 60% and wait patiently. The chicks will be here soon enough!
Caring for Developing Embryos
Now that your eggs have been incubating for several days, it is time to monitor their progress.
Candling is a technique in which bright lights are shined through an egg to measure embryo development; this allows you to ensure that everything is running smoothly as well as detect any nonviable eggs that might exist.
I use this candling device when assessing my eggs viability.
To properly candle your eggs, find a dark room and hold the egg up against a bright light source.
Positioned end down, the egg should allow you to see its air cell at its base; and look for signs of life such as veins and visible embryos; eggs that haven’t developed correctly may show clear surfaces or signs of blood or abnormalities that suggest irregular development.
Remove nonviable eggs as soon as they appear as these may rot and potentially contaminate other eggs in your incubator, giving viable eggs more room and better access to essential nutrients.
Common incubation challenges that may occur include low fertility and early embryo mortality.
Low fertility may be addressed by improving the quality of the eggs you have used.
While early embryo mortality could result from temperature fluctuations or improper humidity levels, to ensure successful hatching it’s important to closely monitor these factors and make necessary adjustments as required.
Candling is an essential step in caring for developing embryos as it allows you to identify viable eggs and remove any that aren’t developing normally.
Resolving issues during incubation will also increase hatch rates and your chances of producing healthy chicks.
Hatching and Caring for the Chicks
Once quail chicks begin hatching, it is crucial that you be prepared. Here are the steps to take:
Hatching Clues:
One of the first telltale signs that an egg will soon hatch is when its edges start to wobble and you hear chirps coming from within it.
This usually takes place 24-48 hours prior to hatching occurring.
Before hatching begins, a separate brooder should be prepared where newly-hatched chicks will be transferred once they’ve dried off.
I use a larger sized tote bin lined with paper towels for the first few days. After the first few days, I switch this out to shavings.
The added bonus is I can add the shavings to my compost bin when I clean the brooder out.
Keep in mind that quail chicks typically take between 24 hours to fully hatch, so try not to rush into helping them too soon.
If a chick appears stuck and struggles, you may try to assist by carefully removing shell pieces or egg membrane from around its head.
Moisten it first with warm water or saline solution if possible to make this easier for removal.
Keep in mind that nature can be cruel and even though you may have done everything correct, you will lose some chicks.
As part of the hatching process, when handling chicks during hatching be mindful not to disturb any unhatched eggs and handle them only minimally as their delicate nature can easily lead to stress and injury.
Aftercare and Transferring Chicks to a Brooder
Once chicks have been successfully hatched, it is vitally important that they receive proper aftercare and transference to a brooder.
Newly hatched quail chicks need warmth, food, and water; you should start feeding them immediately with finely ground starter feed or soak chick crumble in warm water to soften it before giving to them.
I place their food in a small dish and will tap on the food (like their mother would) to bring their attention to it.
Once I see one chick eating, I know the others will catch on quickly enough.
Assuring the hatching area or brooder is warm enough is critical in providing warmth to new-born chicks, and using a thermometer will allow for accurate monitoring.
A temperature around 95degF should be achieved during their first week.
To provide additional warmth for hatching chicks it’s also a good idea to invest in heat lamps or plates that will provide warmth.
I use these heat lamps and thermometer from Amazon.
Make sure there is plenty of food and clean water available. Use a smaller sized feeder/ watering device for quail.
I like to place marbles in the waterer as quail are prone to drowning when they are tiny.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I require a specialized incubator to hatch Coturnix quail eggs?
It is ideal to use an incubator designed specifically for hatching small eggs like those from Coturnix quail; however, standard poultry incubators with some modifications could work just as effectively – just ensure the temperature remains within 99.5 deg F (37.5 C) with sufficient humidity levels for successful hatching.
How often should I turn Coturnix quail eggs during incubation?
Turning is vitally important to healthy egg development; at minimum three to five times daily should be the ideal goal in order to prevent embryos from adhering to their shell and promote proper growth. You could either use an automatic egg turner or manually turn them yourself for optimal results.
For Coturnix quail eggs, what humidity level is necessary during incubation?
Establishing and maintaining an optimal humidity level are critical to successful hatching. Incubation humidity should range between 45-55%; during lockdown (the final few days of incubation), raise it up to 60-70% in order to optimize hatching success.
Should I assist the hatching process if my quail chicks are struggling?
For best results, let the chicks hatch on their own as this strengthens muscles and prepares them for life outside their shells. However, if one chick is struggling for an extended period of time or seems distressed during hatching, gentle assistance may be required.
Final Thoughts
Successfully incubating Cortunix quail eggs is an exciting yet rewarding experience.
It requires careful preparation and care in order to yield positive results. but it is well worth the effort.
In order to do this successfully, it’s essential that you understand the needs of both eggs and embryos, choose appropriate equipment, and adhere to a careful incubation process.
Be prepared to address common problems that might arise and take steps as needed to overcome any hurdles along the way.
No matter the hard work involved in hatching and raising quail, it can be immensely satisfying and fulfilling.
Watching embryos develop and chicks hatch is amazing and watching them become adults is equally amazing.
Raising your own flock into adulthood can be immensely satisfying and of course the added bonus of fresh eggs is always a plus.
If you’re interested in hatching and raising Cortunix quail, there are numerous online and printed resources to guide your efforts.
Be sure to do your research, consult experienced breeders, and seek reliable resources.
Let us know in the comments below if you have any questions. Happy hatching!
