A quail egg turner has one job: roll your eggs six times a day so the yolk stays centered and the embryo never sticks to the shell membrane. For HovaBator owners, the real decision is which tray sits on the IncuTurn™. The Universal Tray that ships with it holds 70 quail eggs. The dedicated Quail Tray holds up to 116.
Quick Answer
Hatching quail only? Get the Quail Tray (116 eggs). Hatching quail with chickens or geese? Keep the Universal Tray (70 quail eggs). The Quail Tray is a tray-only upgrade, so you need an IncuTurn already installed.
The Quail Tray for IncuTurn increases capacity from 70 to 116 quail eggs, about 66% more, and fits current HovaBator desktop incubators.
View the Quail Tray for IncuTurn™
Table of Contents
- Quail Egg Turner Tray Comparison: Universal vs. Quail Tray
- Quail Egg Turner Options at a Glance
- Does the Quail Tray Improve Hatch Rates?
- Which Tray Does Your Setup Need?
- Installing the Quail Tray
- Hatching More Than 116 Quail Eggs?
- Not Using an IncuTurn?
- Why Turning Matters for Quail
- FAQ
Quail Egg Turner Tray Comparison: Universal vs. Quail Tray
The IncuTurn™ Automatic Egg Turner is the standard motorized turner for current HovaBator desktop incubators. It rolls each egg along its long axis six times a day, which is close to how a hen repositions eggs in a nest. Out of the box, it comes with the Universal Tray, built to flex from chicken eggs down to quail. That flexibility is useful for mixed flocks, but a slot sized to also fit a chicken egg never packs quail eggs as tightly as a slot made only for quail.
| Feature | Universal Tray (included with IncuTurn) | Quail Tray for IncuTurn |
|---|---|---|
| Quail egg capacity | 70 eggs | Up to 116 eggs |
| Chicken egg capacity | 42 eggs | Not designed for chicken eggs |
| Goose egg capacity | 28 eggs | Not applicable |
| Sold with the turner motor? | Yes, included | No, tray only |
| Best for | Mixed flocks (quail, chicken, goose) | Quail-only or small-bird-only setups |
| Installation | Comes pre-fitted | Attaches with a single screw |
| Compatibility | All current HovaBator desktop incubators | All current HovaBator desktop incubators (not the older square-style models) |
The capacity gap is the headline, but the real difference is purpose. Every cell in the Quail Tray is sized and spaced for a quail egg, which is how it fits 66% more eggs in the same footprint.
Quail Egg Turner Options at a Glance
| Setup | Quail capacity | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| IncuTurn + Universal Tray | 70 eggs | Mixed flocks in a HovaBator |
| IncuTurn + Quail Tray | Up to 116 eggs | Quail-only hatching in a HovaBator |
| Older Hova-Bator turner with quail racks | Up to 120 eggs (set of 6 racks) | Owners of the older-style turner |
| Cabinet incubator quail trays | 114 eggs per tray | Hatching at hatchery scale |
Does the Quail Tray Improve Hatch Rates?
Not automatically. Both trays run on the same IncuTurn motor and the same six-turns-a-day schedule, so turning frequency is identical.
What changes is egg fit. In the Universal Tray, quail eggs sit in slots sized for a range of eggs, which leaves room for them to shift or wedge at an angle during the roll. In the Quail Tray, each cell is sized for a quail egg, so eggs are more likely to stay seated through every rotation:
- Less chance of an egg rolling into a neighboring cell or sitting cocked on its side
- More even rolling across the tray, since every egg matches its cell
- Less shifting between turns, which matters most in week one
Hatch rate depends more on fertility, egg storage before setting, and getting temperature and humidity right than on the tray. But a tray that keeps quail eggs seated removes one variable over a 17- to 18-day incubation.
Which Tray Does Your Setup Need?
You hatch quail alongside chicken or goose eggs. Stay with the Universal Tray. You give up some quail capacity, but you can run one incubator across egg sizes without swapping trays.
You hatch mostly or only quail. The Quail Tray pays for itself quickly. Going from 70 to 116 eggs per cycle means fewer cycles to reach the same numbers, which matters if you run a Coturnix quail incubator on a production or semi-production schedule.
You are buying your first incubator. Start with the Universal Tray. It is the flexible option while you find out whether quail will be a side project or your main focus, and the Quail Tray is easy to add later without buying a new turner. The quail egg incubator collection shows which HovaBator kits already pair with the IncuTurn, and you can compare other options in the full range of egg turners.
Installing the Quail Tray on Your IncuTurn
The Quail Tray is not a standalone product. It replaces the tray on an IncuTurn you already own, so the motor and mounting bracket are not in the box.
- Power off the incubator and unplug the IncuTurn motor.
- Remove the Universal Tray from the turner base.
- Set the Quail Tray in place and secure it with the single screw provided. A screwdriver is the only tool you need.
- Load quail eggs with the small end down, and confirm the tray sits flat and rotates freely before closing the incubator.
- Power the turner back on and check that it completes a full roll on schedule.
If your motor is worn out, sticking, or noisy, replace it before mounting a new tray. The IncuTurn Parts collection sells the motor and mounting hardware separately.
Hatching More Than 116 Quail Eggs at Once?
116 eggs is close to the ceiling for a HovaBator-style tabletop. Past that, the usual step up is a cabinet incubator like the GQF 1502 Digital Sportsman, which turns eggs with racks instead of a single tray.
The Set of 6 Plastic Quail Egg Trays for Cabinet Incubator is built for that setup. Each tray holds up to 114 quail eggs, and each turning rack in a GQF 1500 or 1502 accepts up to 4 trays, for roughly 456 quail eggs per rack. These trays are not interchangeable with the IncuTurn Quail Tray.
Not Using an IncuTurn? Other HovaBator Quail Egg Turner Options
HovaBator also sells an older-style automatic egg turner that uses swap-in plastic racks instead of a single molded tray. Its racks do not fit the IncuTurn. The Hova-Bator Egg Turner with 6 Universal & 6 Quail Egg Racks includes both rack types, so it is a reasonable starting point if you want quail turning without building around the IncuTurn.
Already own the older-style turner and need racks?
- Set of 6 Plastic Universal Egg Racks hold up to 41 quail eggs alongside chicken and other sizes.
- HovaBator Quail Egg Racks (Set of 6) are quail-specific and hold up to 120 small eggs.
Both rack sets are built only for the older HovaBator Automatic Egg Turner. They do not fit the IncuTurn or Little Giant turners. If you own an IncuTurn, use the Quail Tray above.
Why a Quail Egg Turner Matters
According to Mississippi State University Extension’s hatchery management guide, egg yolk has a lower specific gravity than the surrounding albumen, so an egg that sits still lets the yolk drift toward the shell and the embryo can stick to the membrane. Regular turning keeps the yolk centered while the embryo develops.
Quail have less margin than chickens: Coturnix incubate for 17 to 18 days versus 21, so a missed turn is harder to recover from. That is the case for an automatic egg turner over hand turning, and for a tray that holds eggs securely and rolls them evenly.
For temperature (99.5°F), humidity ranges, and the day 14 lockdown schedule, see our complete beginner’s guide to incubating quail eggs. Still choosing an incubator? Our guide to the best quail egg incubators covers which models pair best with automatic turning.
FAQ
Q: What is the best quail egg turner for a HovaBator?
Ans: The IncuTurn™ with the Quail Tray, if you hatch mostly quail. It holds up to 116 quail eggs. If you also hatch chickens or geese, the IncuTurn with its included Universal Tray (70 quail eggs) is the more flexible choice.
Q: Does the Quail Tray come with its own motor?
Ans: No. It is a tray-only purchase, so you need a working IncuTurn on your incubator first.
Q: Will the Quail Tray fit any HovaBator incubator?
Ans: It fits all current-style HovaBator desktop incubators. It does not fit the older, square-bodied models, so check your incubator’s shape before ordering.
Q: Can I mix quail and chicken eggs in the Quail Tray?
Ans: No. The cells are sized for small eggs, so chicken or goose eggs will not sit correctly. Keep the Universal Tray for mixed batches.
Q: How many more quail eggs does the Quail Tray hold?
Ans: The Universal Tray holds 70 quail eggs, and the Quail Tray holds up to 116, about 66% more in the same footprint.
Q: When do I stop turning quail eggs?
Ans: For Coturnix quail, stop turning at day 14 of the 17- to 18-day incubation. Move the eggs off the turner tray into a hatching tray or onto the incubator floor so chicks can pip without getting caught in the turner.
Q: What if my IncuTurn motor stops working after I add the Quail Tray?
Ans: Check the mount and connection first, since the Quail Tray uses the same motor and mount as the Universal Tray. If the motor is the problem, replace it through the IncuTurn Parts collection rather than buying a new turner.
Q: Can I use the HovaBator quail egg racks (the 1686 set) with my IncuTurn?
Ans: No. Those racks are built for the older-style HovaBator Automatic Egg Turner and will not attach to an IncuTurn. Use the Quail Tray instead.
Whichever tray fits your flock, the goal is the same: keep quail eggs turning evenly through day 14 and let the IncuTurn handle the six turns a day.