Incubating poultry

[British Red]

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The eggs arrived this evening. I’m going to leave them at room temperature until tomorrow, then move into the incubator.

I don't do quail but with hens they need to be stored "pointy end down" for 24 hours prior to setting

 

[Machiavelli]

I don't do quail but with hens they need to be stored "pointy end down" for 24 hours prior to setting

When you say setting, do you mean putting them in the incubator?

 

[British Red]

When you say setting, do you mean putting them in the incubator?

Yep. With hens eggs the contents have to settle. It's important so that an air sack can form in the blunt end for the chick to breathe during hatch.

 

[Machiavelli]

 

[Machiavelli]

Well, success! 4 of the 8 have hatched so far. The first two have been moved into the brooder. I have put stones in the drinker as I have read quail chicks are excellent at drowning themselves.

 

[British Red]

Excellent job

 

[Machiavelli]

Well, after feeling very pleased with myself, I nearly managed to kill them. I popped two in the brooder and they seemed fine, wandering out to explore, then rushing back under the brooder plate for warmth. However, late afternoon I get a call from my wife to say they are both collapsed outside the brooder, clearly chilled. Thankfully, we got them back in the incubator and they have fully recovered, but it was a fast lesson. I’m keeping them in the incubator for now, with some food and water that they are all taking well.

 

[British Red]

Very odd. Never done quail but if the brooder was low enough they should be fine?

 

[Jonno70]

Just wondering how the Quails are getting on. We hatched 19 a few years ago only for the eggs though and tasty as they were I prefer a fresh hens egg. Are you raising them for the meat as well?

 

[Machiavelli]

Morning. It has been an interesting journey with the quail. From the four we initially hatched, three turned out to be cocks. As soon as they reached sexual maturity they started fighting, quickly leading to the death of one (it happened to quickly and was a blood bath). After that I separated the remaining two mails. The female has been laying well for a few weeks, so we about to incubate our next clutch of eggs.

I have put together a hutch that will hold around 40 birds across three separate floors. The plan is to raise the birds for both eggs and meat. Like anything, the learning curve has been steep!

 

[Jonno70]

Thanks for the reply, we had the same issue with the males, brutal little things. Sounds like you have a plan good luck with them.
PS is quail meat tasty? I don't recall ever eating it.

 

[Pattree]

A daughter once made me a birthday cake with thirty four miniature quail eggs.
Farmed quail meat is OK but nothing special.