Incubating Coturnix quail is one of the fastest, most rewarding hatches in poultry: from set to hatch takes just 17–18 days, and a healthy batch of well-stored eggs can hatch at a 70–85% rate. This day-by-day guide covers everything from choosing hatching eggs to brooding your new chicks. New to quail? Start with our complete Coturnix quail care guide.
Before You Start: Choosing & Storing Hatching Eggs
Your hatch rate is largely decided before the incubator is even on. Set the freshest eggs you can:
- Use eggs under 7–10 days old. Fertility drops quickly after that.
- Store them pointed-end down at around 55°F (not in the fridge), and tilt the carton a few times a day until you’re ready to set them.
- Don’t wash eggs — washing removes the protective bloom. Set only clean, well-shaped eggs.
- Let cold eggs warm to room temperature for a few hours before they go into the incubator.
Days 1–14: Temperature, Humidity & Turning
This is the steady-state phase — dial your incubator in and resist the urge to fuss with it.
- Temperature: 99.5–100.5°F in a forced-air (fan) incubator.
- Humidity: about 45% relative humidity.
- Turning: turn eggs at least three times a day (an odd number, so they don’t rest on the same side every night). An automatic turner makes this effortless.
- Candle around day 7–10: hold a bright light to each egg in a dark room and remove any “clears” (infertile) or “quitters” (started, then died) so they don’t spoil and foul the others.
Lockdown (Day 15–18): Stop Turning, Raise Humidity
Around day 15, chicks move into hatching position and you switch modes:
- Stop turning and remove the egg turner.
- Raise humidity to 65–75%. This keeps the membrane from drying and “shrink-wrapping” the chick as it pips.
- Keep the lid closed. Opening the incubator during lockdown dumps the humidity chicks need — resist it, even after you see the first pips.
Most chicks hatch between day 17 and 18. The process can take most of a day from first pip to fully out — that’s normal, so don’t intervene early.
Hatch Day: What to Expect
Let newly hatched chicks dry and fluff up in the incubator for 12–24 hours before you move them. They’re fine without food or water that first day — they absorb the yolk sac just before hatching. Once they’re dry and active, move them to a warm brooder.
Brooder Setup for New Chicks
Quail chicks are tiny and fragile, so the brooder details matter:
- Heat: keep the brooder floor at 96–98°F for the first week, then lower it about 5°F each week until the chicks are fully feathered.
- Footing: use paper towels for the first 3–5 days to prevent splayed legs, then switch to fine pine shavings.
- Water: use a shallow, chick-safe waterer — quail chicks drown easily in standard founts. Adding clean marbles to the trough is a classic fix.
- Feed: a game bird starter with 24%+ protein, ground fine for the first week. Scatter it on a paper plate at first so chicks find it easily.
Moving Chicks Outside
Coturnix grow fast. Chicks are usually ready to leave the brooder at 4–5 weeks, once they’re fully feathered and nighttime temperatures in their housing stay above 60–65°F without added heat. Get their grown-up housing ready with a starter kit or our full range of quail equipment.
Track Every Hatch
The keepers with the best hatch rates are the ones who keep records. Quail Keeper Max lets you log each incubation cycle — set date, temperature, humidity, candling results, and final hatch rate — so you can compare batches and dial in what works for your setup. Track breeding pairs and lineage too, and ask Captain Coturnix for advice based on your real numbers. Start a free 14-day trial →
That’s the whole cycle, from set to hatch to brooder. Start with fresh eggs, hold your numbers steady, and Coturnix make hatching about as forgiving as poultry gets.