Guide to Quail Incubation & Brooding

INCUBATION TIME

24 hours after setting in the incubator is DAY 1. (ie. set on Monday - Tuesday day 1)

Breed - Coturnix varieties (japs,italian,jumbo)
Stop turning - Day 15
Hatching - Day 18

Breed -chinese Painted (CPQ)
Stop turning - Day 12
Hatching - Day 16

Breed - Bobwhites
Stop turning - Day 20
Hatching - Day 23

Breed - Californian
Stop turning - Day 19
Hatching - Day 22

This is just a guide, actual hatching could go a couple of days either way.



OPTIMUM CONDITIONS FOR INCUBATION & HATCHING

Incubator Temperature 37.5 oC, Incubator Humidity 40 - 45%
Hatcher Temerature 37.0 oC, Hatcher Humidity 60 - 75%



BROODING TEMPERATURE

Days 01 -07 - Temp. 35 oC (95oF)
Days 06 - 14 - Temp. 32oC (90oF)
Days 15 - 21 - Temp. 29oC (85oF)
Days 22 - 28 - Temp. 27oC (80oF)
Days 29 - 35 - Temp. 24oC (75oF)

From then on reduce as necessary depending on outside temperature.



If chicks are ranged around the walls of brooder they are too hot so raise the lamp.
If chicks cluster in a ball under the lamp they are too cold so lower the lamp.
If they are evenly spaced around the brooder, the temperature is fine & lamp is at the right height.