Incubation of quail eggs at home

Quails

Female quail are considered good brooders. However, proper home incubation increases the chances of successful quail development. Home incubation of quail eggs depends largely on the temperature, humidity, and ventilation of the incubator.

Female quail are good brood hens. However, it's best to hatch the young artificially. Home incubation allows you to monitor the quail's development. Incubation of quail eggs at home guarantees a healthy and productive flock.

Peculiarities of choosing quail eggs

Choosing the right quail eggs is very important. It's best to consider your own needs:

the weight should be 8-15 grams;
smooth surface of the eggshell without any defects;
matte eggshell color;
correct form.

It is recommended to examine each egg with a special instrument called an ovoscope. This examination should confirm the absence of defects necessary for the successful growth of the quail.

Please note! Eggs are collected from quails between 2 months and 1 year old. Medium-sized eggs are typically chosen. Small and large eggs may have defects that will result in hatched birds that are not viable or very weak.

For good hatchability of quails, fresh hatching eggs are used.

Features of successful incubation of quail eggs

Successful incubation of quail eggs requires adherence to a certain regime.

Proper placement of eggs in the incubator is essential. This can be done vertically or horizontally. It is important to note: Vertical placement increases hatchability. The eggs are turned several times a day to ensure even heating.
Temperature control is essential. Regular thermometers or specialized thermostats are used for this purpose. Thermometers are suitable for simple incubators, while thermostats are suitable for automatic devices.
Maintaining humidity and ventilation. Home incubation requires maintaining optimal humidity and regularly airing quail eggs.

Compliance with basic requirements guarantees successful incubation of quail eggs at home.

What humidity is recommended?

When storing eggs, humidity levels of up to 80 percent are required. During incubation, the optimal level is 53-60 percent for the first 15 days, and 47-49 percent on days 16-17. During hatching, the optimal level is 65-90%.

Humidity This is an important factor during home incubation of quail eggs. It helps prevent the embryo from becoming dehydrated. Dry air will cause the eggshell membrane to dry out, preventing the chick from hatching.

Excessive humidity will weaken the eggshell, oversaturate the embryonic membrane, and cause mold to form in the incubator. For this reason, maintaining the correct humidity is crucial for the chicks.

Optimal temperature conditions

Fact! The incubators are heated using four lamps installed in each corner. The lamp power depends on the room and incubator temperature. The lamps can be raised or lowered to adjust the temperature.

The maximum permissible temperature is 40 degrees Celsius. It is recommended to install an alcohol thermometer with a 0.1 degree scale in the incubator for careful monitoring.

Pressure control

Important! The gas composition of the air in the incubator may change. The partial pressure of oxygen will be lower, and the carbon dioxide will be higher. Monitoring the pressure with special instruments is not necessary, but ventilation is important.

Proper home incubation will result in uniform hatching of the chicks on the desired day within 5-6 hours. A few quail chicks may be delayed for 1-2 days. If all deadlines have passed and hatchability fails to meet expectations, the eggs are kept in the incubator for a week, after which a final assessment can be made regarding the results of home incubation of quail eggs.