Quail eggs, what to do

I hatch quail the same as chickens. My buttons hatch from 16-20 days (I've had one chick hatch at 21 days). I have some really draggy hatches with button quail, probably because I started with only a single female, and I'm on the fifth generation. I'm at the point were my hatch is less than 20% of the eggs set, and inbreeding depression is probably going to end my button quail days unless I introduce some new blood. I stop turning the eggs at 14 days and go into the hatcher.

Coturnix quail hatch in around 17-18 days. I stop turning the eggs at 14 days even though I probably should stop at 15. We set on a Friday and pull the hatch on a Tuesday, and I'd have to transfer the eggs on a Saturday if I went to 15 days.

Bobwhites hatch in 21 days and I used to treat them just like chickens, but I don't have any anymore. They were the worst cannibals that I've ever had.

I haven't hatched any other kinds of quail. If you want less than 25 eggs you will have to find a local supplier. The hatch will be better if you don't have to get them in the mail. Expect a 30% hatch from eggs that you get in the mail. If you get more than that count your blessings.

Button quail (Coturnix chinensis) and Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix) have the shortest generation length and you can easily go from egg to egg in 10 weeks. In fact, by the time Japanese quail are 10 weeks old (10 weeks after hatch) you should have more than enough eggs to repopulate. I tend to get the first eggs just before they turn 6 weeks of age, most of the hens will be laying by 8 weeks of age. Some are slower especially in my inbred lines. I don't know if it is the best for them, but our quail are kept under constant light from hatch through breeding. Until I came to Arkansas I'd never done this.