Incubation Reference Guide • All Quail Species
Exact temperature, humidity, lockdown day, and expected hatch time for Coturnix, Bobwhite, California, and Button quail, all in one reference. Updated for 2026 by the Incubator Warehouse team
The Short Answer
Quail Egg Incubation Temperature: All Species Use 99.5°F
Whether you are hatching Coturnix (Japanese), Bobwhite, California, or Button quail, the forced-air incubation temperature is the same for every species: 99.5°F (37.5°C). What differs is the humidity range, the lockdown day, and the total number of days to hatch. Getting these species-specific details right before you set your first egg is the most important step toward a successful hatch.
At a glance: Set your forced-air incubator to 99.5°F for all quail species. Button quail hatch fastest at 16 days. Coturnix follow at 17 to 18 days. California and Bobwhite quail both take 22 to 24 days. Lockdown day varies by species. Raise humidity to 65-70% during lockdown for all species, regardless of the type you are hatching.
The single most common cause of failed quail hatches, across every species, is incorrect humidity. Running humidity too high during incubation prevents the air cell from developing properly. Running humidity too low during lockdown causes the inner membrane to dry and trap the chick. Both problems are preventable with a calibrated digital hygrometer and the correct target range for your specific species.
Complete Reference
Master Quail Egg Incubation Temperature Chart (All Species)
Use the table below as your go-to quail incubation chart. It covers every key parameter for the four most commonly kept quail species in the United States. All temperature values apply to forced-air incubators. Still-air settings are covered separately in the Forced-Air vs Still-Air section.
| Species | Forced-Air Temp | Humidity (Days 1 to Lockdown) | Lockdown Day | Lockdown Humidity | Days to Hatch | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coturnix (Japanese) Coturnix coturnix japonica |
99.5°F (37.5°C) | 45 to 50% | Day 14 | 65 to 70% | 17 to 18 days | Easy |
| Bobwhite Colinus virginianus |
99.5°F (37.5°C) | 40 to 45% | Day 21 | 65 to 70% | 23 to 24 days | Moderate |
| California Callipepla californica |
99.5°F (37.5°C) | 45 to 55% | Day 21 | 65 to 70% | 22 to 23 days | Harder |
| Button (King Quail) Excalfactoria chinensis |
99.5°F (37.5°C) | 50 to 55% | Day 13 | 65 to 70% | 16 days | Moderate |
All four species turn eggs 3 to 5 times per day from setting through the lockdown day. Using an auto-turner with quail-sized rails is strongly recommended because it eliminates missed turns and ensures eggs always rest on alternating sides overnight. During lockdown, stop turning, lay eggs on their sides, fill all water reservoirs, and do not open the incubator again until hatching is complete.
Species Deep Dive
Coturnix Quail Incubation Temperature and Settings
Coturnix quail (Japanese quail) are the most beginner-friendly species to incubate and the fastest to hatch. At just 17 to 18 days, you can complete two or three practice runs before other species would finish a single hatch. Their eggs tolerate minor humidity fluctuations in the 45 to 55% range better than those of Bobwhite or California quail, giving new hatchers a small margin for error while calibrating a new incubator.
The most common Coturnix incubation failure is humidity running too high during days 1 to 14, which prevents proper air cell development and causes late embryo deaths. Candle on day 7 to remove clear and blood ring eggs, and candle again on day 12 to check air cell size before lockdown. A healthy Coturnix air cell should occupy approximately one-third of the egg volume by day 14.
For a full day-by-day breakdown, see our complete Coturnix quail egg incubation guide.
Bobwhite Quail Incubation Temperature and Settings
Bobwhite quail are the classic North American game bird and take significantly longer to hatch than Coturnix: 23 to 24 days compared to 17 to 18. The quail in Bobwhite settings for Bobwhite are slightly stricter about humidity during incubation. Run 40 to 45% rather than the 45 to 50% used for Coturnix. Bobwhite eggs are more sensitive to humidity running above 50% during the incubation phase, which is the leading cause of failed bobwhite hatches across the United States.
For the complete day-by-day schedule, candling guide, and lockdown protocol, read our Bobwhite quail egg incubation guide.
California Quail Incubation Temperature and Settings
California quail are considered the most demanding of the four species for artificial incubation. They are seasonal breeders, laying clutches of 10 to 20 eggs from spring through early summer, which means hatching windows are limited. The California quail incubation temperature matches all other species at 99.5°F forced-air. Still, their humidity tolerance during incubation is slightly broader, ranging from 45 to 55%, placing them between Coturnix (45 to 50%) and Button quail (50 to 55%). Lockdown starts on BobwhiBobwhiteame as Bobwhite, with humidity raised to 65-70%.
California quail eggs are small, spotted, and cream to olive in color, averaging 10 to 13 grams. Their spotted shell makes candling slightly more mBobwhitBobwhite than Bobwhite (white shell) or Coturnix. Use a bright, focused LED candler in a dark room and work quickly, keeping the total time out of the incubator under 5 minutes. See our full California quail care and incubation guide for a complete step-by-step walkthrough.
Visual Summary
Species Settings Side by Side
Coturnix Quail
Coturnix coturnix japonicaBobwhite Quail
Colinus virginianusCalifornia Quail
Callipepla californicaButton Quail
Excalfactoria chinensisEquipment Guidance
Forced-Air vs Still-Air Incubators: Quail Incubator Settings
All temperature values in this guide apply to forced-air incubators, which circulate air with a fan for even heat distribution. If you are using a still-air incubator, the target temperature changes because still-air units stratify: the top of the chamber is warmer than the egg level. Use the values in the table below when setting quail incubator settings for still-air models.
| Species | Forced-Air Temp | Still-Air Temp (at egg level) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coturnix | 99.5°F (37.5°C) | 101 to 102°F | Most forgiving of the four species for minor temperature variation |
| Bobwhite | 99.5°F (37.5°C) | 101 to 102°F | Stricter humidity management needed; forced-air strongly preferred |
| California | 99.5°F (37.5°C) | 101 to 102°F | Seasonal breeder; forced-air is the better choice for limited clutch sizes |
| Button | 99.5°F (37.5°C) | 101 to 102°F | Very short incubation period; temperature spikes are especially damaging in the first week |
Critical Variable
Humidity Guide for Quail Egg Incubation
Humidity is the variable that causes the most quail hatch failures across all four species. The purpose of incubation humidity is to control how much moisture the egg loses through its porous shell. Every quail egg needs to lose approximately 13% of its starting weight through evaporation before lockdown. Too much humidity prevents this moisture loss. Too little causes excessive drying. Both problems are clearly evident in the air cell size at candling.
How to Read Air Cell Size at Candling
By day 7, the air cell should occupy roughly 15-20% of the egg volume. By day 14 for Coturnix (or day 14 for Bobwhite and California, two weeks into their longer incubation), the air cell should have grown to approximately 30-35% of the total egg volume. If the air cell is smaller than this target, the humidity has been running too high. Lower it by 3-5 percentage points and slightly open the ventilation ports. If the air cell is larger than the target, the humidity has been running too low. Add water to the reservoir and partially close the vent ports.
The Dry Incubation Method
Many experienced quail breeders in dry US climates (Southwest, Great Plains, inland Southeast) use a dry incubation technique, maintaining humidity at 25 to 35% from day 1 through lockdown. The logic is valid: in dry climates where ambient room humidity is already low, the incubator can struggle to maintain 45 to 50% without adding excess water. Running drier ensures proper air cell development. This method is not recommended for beginners or for hatchers in humid coastal regions where ambient humidity is already near or above the target incubation range.
Problem Solving
Quail Egg Incubation Troubleshooting Chart
The table below covers the most common quail egg incubation problems across all four species, with the most likely cause and the correction for your next hatch.
| Problem | Most Likely Cause | Correction |
|---|---|---|
| All eggs are clear at day 7 | Infertile eggs; male too young or not breeding; wrong sex ratio | Confirm male fertility and age; adjust ratio to 1 male per 2 to 4 females; use fresh eggs under 7 days old |
| Blood rings at day 7 | Temperature spike or crash days 1 to 3; rough handling; eggs too old | Pre-run incubator 24 to 48 hours before setting; pre-warm eggs to room temperature; use eggs under 7 days old |
| Late embryo deaths (days 10 to 14) | Humidity too high during incubation; bacteria from cracked eggs; insufficient ventilation. | Lower humidity to species target; remove cracked eggs before setting; open vent ports 25 to 50% |
| Fully formed chick, no pip | Air cell too small due to excess humidity; temperature too low in the final days; malposition | Lower incubation humidity; verify temperature accuracy with an independent probe; candle at day 14 to confirm air cell size |
| Pipped but stuck, cannot zip. | Humidity too low at lockdown; incubator opened during hatch; membrane dried | Raise the lockdown humidity to 65-70%, as confirmed by an independent hygrometer; do not open the incubator during active hatching. |
| Hatch rate below 50% consistently | Incubator temperature or humidity inaccuracy; eggs too old; nutritional deficiency in breeding flock | Run an empty pre-calibration cycle; use fresh eggs; increase breeder flock protein and Vitamin E intake. |
| Spraddle leg in chicks | Slippery hatch surface; brooder floor too smooth; riboflavin deficiency in breeding flock | Add shelf liner or rubber mat to hatcher floor; use paper towels on brooder floor for week 1; review breede. d.t. |
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Every quail incubator setup needs a reliable forced-air incubator, an auto-turner with quail-sized rails, and a calibrated independent hygrometer. Browsing directly from Incubator Warehouse gives you access to the 2-Year IncuCare Warranty and free shipping on orders over $25 (excludes cabinet incubators and GQF brooders; excludes Hawaii and Alaska).
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Deep Dive Into Each Species
Frequently Asked Questions
Quail Egg Incubation Temperature: FAQs
All common quail species are incubated at 99.5°F (37.5°C) in a forced-air incubator. This applies to Coturnix, Bobwhite, California, and Button quail. If you are using a still-air incubator without a fan, set the temperature to 101 to 102°F measured directly at egg level with a calibrated probe thermometer. Never rely solely on the built-in display of a budget incubator. Verify with an independent thermometer and hygrometer before setting any eggs.
Humidity requirements vary by species. Coturnix quail require 45-50% relative humidity during incubation (days 1-14). Bobwhite quail require a slightly lower 40 to 45% (days 1 to 21). California quail fall in the 45 to 55% range (days 1 to 21). Button quail need 50-55% (days 1-13). During lockdown, all four species require the humidity to be raised to 65% for the remainder of the hatch. Running humidity too high during incubation is the number one cause of failed quail hatches across all species.
Hatch time varies by species. Button quail hatch in 16 days, the fastest of the four. Coturnix quail hatch in 17 to 18 days. California quail hatch in 22 to 23 days. Bobwhite quail take the longest at 23 to 24 days. These timeframes assume a correct temperature of 99.5°F throughout. Temperatures running consistently below 99°F slow development and push hatch dates later. Temperatures above 100.5°F can speed up hatch but reduce chick viability.
Stop turning on the lockdown day specific to each species. For Coturnix, stop turning on day 14. For Button quail, stop on day 13. For both Bobwhite and California quail, stop turning on day 21. At the same time, you stop turning, lay eggs on their sides, fill all water reservoirs, raise humidity to 65-70%, and do not open the incubator again until all hatching activity is complete. Turning after lockdown disrupts the chick's positioning and makes it harder for them to pip correctly.
It is not recommended. Different species have different lockdown days, which require a shift in humidity at different times. A Coturnix batch goes into lockdown on day 14, while a Bobwhite batch in the same incubator might still be on day 7 of active incubation. Correctly managing the humidity transition for one species would disrupt the other species'humidity requirements. If you want to hatch multiple species, run them in separate dedicated incubators or in a separate hatcher unit.
The most common causes are: humidity running too high durBobwhitebBobwhitebove 50% for Bobwhite or above 55% for Coturnix), which prevents proper air cell development and causes late embryo deaths; humidity too low at lockdown (below 60%), which dries the membrane and traps chicks; the incubator being opened during active hatching which causes a rapid humidity crash; eggs set that were older than 10 days from laying; temperature inaccuracy from an uncalibrated gauge; and infertile eggs from a breeding flock with a nutritional or management issue. Work through each variable systematically. Most failures across all quail species trace back to humidity rather than temperature.