Hatching Coturnix Quail

It’s hatch day +1, and it's time to open up the incubator and meet our adorable new Coturnix quail chicks! After a full day of rest and fluffing up, these little cuties are ready to take their first peek at the world outside the incubator. Watch as they wobble around, explore, and chirp their way around for the first time. If you’re as obsessed with these tiny, fluffy miracles as we are, give us a thumbs up and subscribe for more hatchling adventures!
Here are some key details about hatching Coturnix quail:
1. Incubation Temperature and Humidity
Temperature: Coturnix quail eggs need to be incubated at around 99.5°F (37.5°C) throughout the process.
Humidity: For the first 14 days, maintain a humidity level of 45-50%. On the last three days, known as "lockdown," increase the humidity to around 65-70% to help the chicks break through the eggshell.
2. Incubation Period
Coturnix quail eggs typically hatch in 16-18 days. This is shorter than the incubation period for chicken eggs, making Coturnix quail a relatively quick-to-hatch species.
3. Turning the Eggs
Quail eggs should be turned about 3 times a day for the first 14 days to prevent the developing embryo from sticking to the shell. Automatic egg turners can be very helpful, but if turning by hand, make sure to wash your hands and be gentle.
Stop turning the eggs on Day 14 to allow the chicks to position themselves for hatching.
4. Lockdown Phase
From Day 14 onward (the last 3-4 days), avoid opening the incubator. This is called "lockdown," and it’s essential to maintain high humidity and avoid any disturbances that could harm the hatching chicks.
5. Hatching Process
The chicks use a small “egg tooth” at the tip of their beaks to break through the shell. This process can take several hours and often occurs in stages.
Some chicks may "pip" (make a small hole in the shell) but then take a break for several hours before starting to "zip" (break around the circumference of the shell) and emerge.
6. After Hatching
Once hatched, leave the chicks in the incubator until they are dry and fluffy, which can take up to 24 hours.
Quail chicks are very tiny and delicate. Once they are dry, transfer them to a brooder with a warm temperature (95°F / 35°C for the first week) and provide water and food that’s appropriately sized for tiny chicks.
7. Feeding and Watering Newly Hatched Quail
Provide a shallow water source to prevent drowning (a water dish with marbles or stones in it works well).
Feed them a high-protein game bird starter (28-30% protein) to support rapid growth in the early stages.
8. Growth and Maturity
Coturnix quail grow quickly and reach full maturity at around 6-8 weeks, which means they can start laying eggs or, in the case of males, crowing by then.
Hatching Coturnix quail is a fascinating process and, with the right care and environment, can be a rewarding experience!
NOTE: Normally, it is not recommend to open the incubator if there are still viable eggs inside; however, the chicks were in the incubator for 24 hours and needed to be removed to eat and drink. The eggs that remained in the incubator were sprayed with water to raise the humidity and prevent piped chicks from getting stuck. Please subscribe and contact me for more information and videos about quail.
ALSO, some of you may have notice a couple silkie chicks in the mix! They were the last eggs of the season. A silkie hen had been sitting on their eggs, but it was too cold outside for them to make it. The grey silkie chick thrived and has since found a new home. Unfortunately, the little buff silkie in the corner of the video crossed the rainbow bridge a couple days later.
Thank you for liking this video!