If you’ve decided you want to hatch your own quail eggs and need an incubator, this post is for you! Coturnix quail generally do not hatch their own eggs like chickens do. They have been raised domestically for meat and eggs for so long that the broody behavior has mostly disappeared. This past fall I had two or three females actually start to display broody behavior (nesting and sitting on eggs) for the first time ever, but they were ultimately unsuccessful. So even though I have many female quail, I rely fully on incubators to produce chicks.
Incubators provide an environment with consistent temperature and humidity levels, mimicking the conditions necessary for embryo development. Unlike natural incubation methods, which can be unpredictable and prone to external factors, incubators offer control and reliability throughout the hatching process.
Types of Incubators:
There are various types of incubators available for quail egg hatching, each with its own set of features and benefits.
- Small tabletop incubators are what I use myself and the most common household incubator. These will suit your purposes fine until you decide you wish to move into large scale production.
- Larger cabinet-style incubators often offer more advanced features for precise temperature and humidity control. They can range in size from 30 inches tall to the size of a refrigerator. These are a much higher price point and usually overkill for the backyard quail raiser.
- Still air vs forced air: Still air incubators are less expensive than forced air, because they have less electronics on board (no fan). That said, the warmth and humidity is much more evenly distributed and reliable with a forced-air unit and that is the only kind I would recommend.
Recommended Incubators:
There are a wide range of different incubators available for sale if you look online. I’ve been through a few at this point and despite spending many hours reading reviews have still ended up with some duds. The two I am currently using and have had the best success with are the Hovabator 2730 and the Farm Innovators 2450 models. These two have a similar footprint, method of operation, and cost. I’ll outline some of the features here.
Hovabator 2730:
This incubator is easy to get to my desired temperature quickly and holds it well with hardly any adjustment. The temperature reading on the electronic display is almost accurate – within 1 or 2 degrees of the temperature inside. It is simple to operate, and reliable. I have run thousands of eggs through this particular one with no mechanical failure. It is made of Styrofoam, so eventually that will break down and need to be replaced. However, I am impressed with its performance so far. The egg turner that originally came with it was not very sturdy and I ended up having to replace it.
Farm Innovators 2450:
This incubator is a little more tricky and sensitive with temperature adjustments than the Hovabator. The control panel has a couple of additional features that require more button presses to accomplish the same thing. The temperature reading on mine is about 5-6 degrees low, which lost me a batch of eggs until I figured it out. Now that I know, I just accommodate that when setting it and it performs well. It takes longer to get to an even temperature than the Hovabator. It is slightly sturdier due to a plastic outer covering over the Styrofoam. The egg turner Farm Innovators makes was much nicer and better made than the Hovabator. It is also nicer to have the bigger clear area on top for viewing.
These incubators have consistently delivered good results in terms of hatch rates, ease of use, and durability and I would buy them again if I needed to. You can find them here:
Hovabator: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KFPQH15
Farm Innovators: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00TTYLIKY
Quail racks for the Farm Innovators: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007E5H4VC
Do I need an automatic egg turner?
Should you buy an egg turner? YES. You can certainly opt not to if cost is a consideration, but then you will need to manually turn the eggs by hand several times a day for the embryo to develop correctly. A big key to success with these small incubators is to not open them any more than absolutely necessary. If you are turning by hand, you are losing a lot of warmth and humidity several times a day and this will not bode well for your hatch rate. The automatic turner is hands down worth its price.
It is important to note that many turners come with racks meant for chicken eggs, so be sure you get quail egg racks for your turner. The holes are much smaller and will hold the tiny quail eggs. Note that the Hovabator above comes with the quail egg racks, but you need to buy them separately for the Farm Innovators model. They are fairly simple to change out. Each incubator can hold 120 quail eggs once the quail egg racks have been installed.
Thermometer/Hygrometer
Along with your incubator, I recommend purchasing two alternate ways of checking temperature and humidity. I always use two additional thermometers/hygrometers inside at the egg level to ensure my numbers look good regardless of what the incubator’s display reads.
Here are the two kinds I am currently using:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09NL17MBR
Once you’ve chosen an incubator, a test run should be your next step. Read through the instructions, then get the incubator set up and running. Keep the incubator in a stable environment away from drafts, direct sunlight, and extreme temperatures. Set your additional thermometers inside the incubator to double check that things are as they should be. If not, adjust the temperature control on the incubator.
If you have time, it’s recommended to run a new incubator for a few days prior to starting eggs to ensure everything is working well. Once you have used it successfully, it’s still wise to run it for at least 24 hours before each new batch of eggs.
With the right incubator and proper techniques, hatching quail eggs can be a successful and fun venture. Feel free to reach out with any questions or share your experiences in the comments below. Happy hatching!