Incubating quail eggs is one of the quickest and most rewarding ways to grow a flock at home. Coturnix quail hatch in just 17 to 18 days, and a healthy hen can lay almost every day, so you can run several hatches a season. This guide shows you how to incubate quail eggs step by step: the right temperature and humidity, how often to turn the eggs, when to start lockdown, what to expect on hatch day, and how to care for the chicks.
Quick Answer: How to Incubate Quail Eggs
To incubate quail eggs, set a forced-air incubator to 99.5°F (37.5°C) with 45 to 50% humidity and turn the eggs at least three times a day. On day 14 of incubation (lockdown), stop turning and raise humidity to 65 to 70%. Coturnix quail eggs hatch in 17 to 18 days. Candle the eggs on day 7, do not open the incubator during the hatch, and leave the chicks in until they are dry and fluffy.
| Coturnix quail egg incubation at a glance | Setting |
|---|---|
| Temperature (forced-air) | 99.5°F (37.5°C) |
| Temperature (still-air) | 101 to 102°F, measured at the top of the eggs |
| Humidity, days 1 to 14 | 45 to 50% |
| Humidity at lockdown | 65 to 70% |
| Turning | At least 3 times a day, an odd number of turns |
| Stop turning (lockdown) | Day 14 (some extension charts say after day 15) |
| Candling | Day 7, and optionally day 14 |
| First pips | Day 16 to 17 |
| Hatch | Day 17 to 18 |
| Egg age and storage | Set within 7 days if you can (10 at most); store at 55 to 65°F |
On this page:
- Why Incubate Quail Eggs at Home?
- Quail Egg Incubation Timeline
- Incubation Time by Quail Species
- Choosing a Quail Egg Incubator
- Temperature and Humidity Settings
- How to Incubate Quail Eggs, Step by Step
- How to Candle Quail Eggs
- After the Hatch: Caring for Quail Chicks
- Common Incubation Mistakes
- FAQs
- Sources
Why Incubate Quail Eggs at Home?
Quail are fast breeders. Coturnix quail reach sexual maturity in as little as six weeks, and a healthy hen lays an egg nearly every day. Instead of relying on outside breeders or hatcheries, incubating your own eggs lets you:
- Expand your flock at a low cost
- Select for the traits you want in your birds
- Keep a steady supply of chicks year-round
- Watch life develop from egg to chick in under three weeks
The key to success is understanding the conditions quail eggs need and having an incubator that holds them steady. If you are new to quail altogether, start with our complete guide to raising quail and our guide to the best quail breeds for eggs.
Quail Egg Incubation Timeline (Coturnix)
Day 1 is the day you set the eggs. Use this timeline as a quick reference:
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1 day before | Run the incubator empty for about 24 hours and confirm temperature and humidity with a separate thermometer and hygrometer |
| Day 1 | Set the eggs at 99.5°F and 45 to 50% humidity; start turning |
| Days 2 to 13 | Turn at least 3 times a day, check readings daily, keep water topped up |
| Day 7 | Candle to check fertility and remove clear eggs |
| Day 14 | Lockdown: stop turning, lay eggs on their sides, raise humidity to 65 to 70%, close the incubator |
| Days 16 to 17 | First pips appear; do not open the incubator |
| Days 17 to 18 | Most chicks hatch; wait until they are dry and fluffy before moving them |
Incubation Time by Quail Species
All common quail species incubate at 99.5°F in a forced-air incubator, but the number of days and the lockdown day differ. Always match your schedule to the species you are hatching.
| Quail species | Incubation period | Stop turning (lockdown) |
|---|---|---|
| Coturnix (Japanese) quail | 17 to 18 days | Day 14 (to 15) |
| Button (King) quail | About 16 to 18 days | About 3 days before hatch |
| Bobwhite quail | 23 to 24 days | Day 20 to 21 |
| California (Valley) quail | 22 to 24 days | Day 21 |
For species-specific humidity and day-by-day detail, see our Coturnix quail egg incubation guide, Bobwhite quail incubation guide, California quail guide, and humidity for quail eggs chart. For a side-by-side of the species, read Coturnix vs Bobwhite vs Button quail. You can also compare other birds in our hatch time chart.
Choosing a Quail Egg Incubator
For quail eggs, the best incubator is a forced-air model with digital temperature control, automatic turning, and a way to check humidity without opening the lid. Quail eggs are small and sensitive, so stability matters more than a long feature list. Look for:
- A fan (forced air): circulates heat evenly and removes hot and cold spots
- Digital temperature control: holds the temperature within about half a degree
- An automatic turner with quail-sized racks: standard chicken egg racks are too large for quail eggs
- A viewing window or clear lid: lets you watch the hatch without opening the incubator
- An independent thermometer and hygrometer: built-in displays can read a few points off
Popular options for quail from Incubator Warehouse include:
- HovaBator Genesis 1588: a 12V digital incubator with a soft-air fan, a day-until-hatch counter, and room for up to 140 quail eggs without a turner. It is pre-set to 100°F and adjustable, so set it to 99.5°F for quail.
- HovaBator 2370: a low-cost circulated air incubator with a digital electronic thermostat and room for about 188 quail eggs without a turner, which is sold separately.
- IncuView 3 Pro: an all-in-one automatic incubator with a clear viewing lid, automatic turning that shuts off before hatching, and room for 40 to 52 quail eggs.
- AccuHatch 360: a tabletop incubator with digital temperature control, an automatic turner, and a 360-degree clear lid.
Browse every option in our quail egg incubator collection, or read our best quail egg incubator guide for a model-by-model comparison. For automatic turning, see our egg turner for quail eggs guide.
Quail Egg Incubation Temperature and Humidity
Getting the environment right is everything. Quail eggs are small, so even small swings in temperature or humidity can affect the hatch.
Temperature
Set a forced-air incubator to 99.5°F (37.5°C) for the whole incubation. University extension sources list 99.5 to 100°F for forced-air incubators. A still-air incubator runs higher, at about 101 to 102°F measured at the top of the eggs. Try not to let the temperature swing more than a degree, because steady heat drives healthy embryo development. Check your reading against an independent probe such as the IncuTherm Plus Hatch Monitor.
Humidity
Keep Coturnix quail eggs at 45 to 50% humidity for days 1 to 14, then raise it to 65 to 70% for lockdown. Many first-time hatchers use chicken settings, which are higher, and that can leave the air cell too small. A digital hygrometer inside the incubator takes the guesswork out of monitoring.
You may see different numbers elsewhere. University extension charts for general poultry list a higher range, about 55 to 60% relative humidity, while many quail keepers run the lower range above for Coturnix. Treat 45 to 50% as a starting point, and adjust by candling the air cell around day 14 and watching how chicks hatch. Our guide to maintaining incubator humidity and the quail egg incubation temperature chart go deeper. To hold humidity automatically, add a HumidiKit.
How to Incubate Quail Eggs, Step by Step
Step 1: Select and store your eggs
Use clean, fertile eggs, ideally less than 7 days old. Avoid cracked or misshapen eggs and eggs that have been stored in extreme temperatures. Store eggs at 55 to 65°F (12 to 18°C), pointed end down, and avoid the refrigerator, because cold storage lowers hatchability. Let the eggs come to room temperature for several hours before setting them. Store-bought quail eggs are almost always unfertilized and will not hatch, so source fertile eggs from your own flock or a breeder. In a Coturnix flock, a common ratio is one male to three to five females.
Step 2: Set up and pre-warm the incubator
Run the incubator empty for at least 24 hours before adding eggs. This lets temperature and humidity stabilize and gives you a chance to catch calibration problems. Adjust settings until readings hold steady, with an independent thermometer and hygrometer at egg level.
Step 3: Place the eggs
Set the eggs with the larger end slightly raised, or on their sides in quail-sized cradles. Leave room for airflow around each egg, and do not overload the incubator. Follow your manufacturer's capacity guidance.
Step 4: Turn the eggs
Turning keeps the embryo from sticking to the shell membrane. Turn at least three times a day, always an odd number of times so the eggs rest on alternating sides overnight. University extension guidance suggests four to six turns a day. Most modern incubators turn automatically. If yours does not, mark one side of each egg and log every turn.
Step 5: Candle the eggs
Candle around day 7 to check fertility and remove clear eggs. See the next section for what to look for.
Step 6: Begin lockdown on day 14
On day 14, stop turning, lay the eggs on their sides, fill the water channels, and raise humidity to 65 to 70%. From this point, do not open the incubator unless you must. Opening it lets humidity drop and can dry the membrane around hatching chicks.
Step 7: Hatch day
Chicks begin to pip around day 16 to 17, and most hatch on day 17 or 18. You may hear chirping or see an egg wobble before the first pip, which is a small crack in the shell. Be patient, because chicks can take 12 to 24 hours to fully emerge after pipping. Do not help a chick unless it has been struggling for more than 24 hours, since early help can cause bleeding and death. Leave the chicks in the incubator until they are dry and fluffy.
How Long Do Quail Eggs Take to Hatch?
Coturnix quail eggs hatch in 17 to 18 days under ideal conditions. Button quail hatch in about 16 to 18 days, Bobwhite quail in 23 to 24 days, and California quail in 22 to 24 days. These timelines assume a steady 99.5°F. A temperature drop at any point can add a day or two to the hatch, and eggs from older or shipped batches often hatch later.
How to Candle Quail Eggs
Candling means shining a bright light through the shell to check development. Quail shells are heavily speckled, so use a bright, focused LED candler in a dark room, such as the Incu-Bright LED Egg Candler. Keep each session short to avoid losing heat and humidity.
- Fertile egg (day 7): a web of red blood vessels around a dark center
- Infertile egg: clear, with only a faint yolk shadow
- Blood ring: a ring of blood with no embryo, meaning development stopped; remove it
- Day 14: a large dark mass with a defined air cell at the large end; you may see movement
Remove clear and blood ring eggs promptly so they do not contaminate the others. Never candle after lockdown begins. For more, see our egg candling guide and our candling guide with pictures.
After the Hatch: Caring for Quail Chicks
Once chicks are dry, usually within a few hours, move them to a pre-warmed brooder. Quail chicks can run around almost immediately, but they chill quickly in the first week. Set up the brooder with:
- Heat: 95 to 100°F under a brooder plate or heat lamp for the first week, with a cooler zone so chicks can self-regulate
- Temperature schedule: reduce by about 5°F each week until the chicks are fully feathered, usually at four to five weeks
- Water: a shallow dish with marbles or pebbles to prevent drowning
- Feed: a game bird or quail chick starter, typically around 24 to 28% protein
- Flooring and cover: paper towels for the first few days, and a mesh cover because quail chicks can jump early
Browse brooders and brooder supplies to set up before your hatch day, and see our Coturnix quail raising guide for what comes next.
Common Quail Incubation Mistakes to Avoid
| Mistake | What happens | How to fix it |
|---|---|---|
| Opening the incubator during lockdown | Humidity drops and the membrane can dry around hatching chicks | Keep it closed and watch through the window |
| Low humidity at lockdown | Chicks pip but cannot fully hatch | Raise humidity to 65 to 70% on day 14 |
| High humidity during incubation | The air cell stays too small and late embryos die | Hold 45 to 50% and confirm with a calibrated hygrometer |
| Temperature swings | Uneven development and a low hatch rate | Pre-test the incubator for 24 hours and use an independent thermometer |
| Overcrowding the incubator | Poor airflow and uneven heat | Follow the capacity guidance for your model |
| Setting dirty or old eggs | Bacteria spread and hatch rates drop | Set clean eggs within 7 to 10 days; wipe gently with a dry cloth, and do not wash them |
| Using chicken settings | Wrong lockdown day and humidity | Use the species settings above |
For more help, see our guides to why hatch rates drop and cleaning and maintaining an incubator, and our common quail health problems guide.
FAQs (People Also Ask)
Q: How long does it take to incubate quail eggs?
Ans: Coturnix quail eggs take 17 to 18 days at 99.5°F in a forced-air incubator. Button quail take about 16 to 18 days, Bobwhite quail 23 to 24 days, and California quail 22 to 24 days.
Q: What temperature should you incubate quail eggs at?
Ans: 99.5°F (37.5°C) in a forced-air incubator, and about 101 to 102°F in a still-air incubator, measured at the top of the eggs. University extension sources list 99.5 to 100°F for forced-air incubators.
Q: What humidity do quail eggs need?
Ans: For Coturnix quail, 45 to 50% humidity for days 1 to 14, then 65 to 70% for lockdown. University extension charts for general poultry list a higher range, so adjust by candling and by how chicks hatch.
Q: How often should you turn quail eggs?
Ans: At least three times a day, always an odd number of times so eggs rest on alternating sides overnight. University extension guidance suggests four to six turns a day. An automatic turner handles this for you.
Q: When should you stop turning quail eggs?
Ans: On day 14 for Coturnix quail, when lockdown starts. Some extension charts say to stop after day 15, so day 14 or 15 both work. Stop turning, lay the eggs on their sides, raise humidity to 65 to 70%, and keep the incubator closed.
Q: What is lockdown for quail eggs?
Ans: Lockdown is the final stage of incubation, about three days before hatch, when you stop turning, raise humidity to 65 to 70%, and stop opening the incubator so chicks can pip and hatch.
Q: When should you candle quail eggs?
Ans: Around day 7 to check fertility, and optionally on day 14 to check the air cell and movement. Do not candle after lockdown begins.
Q: Can you incubate store-bought quail eggs?
Ans: Almost never. Eggs sold in grocery stores are nearly always unfertilized, so they will not hatch. Source fertile eggs from your own flock or a breeder.
Q: How long can you store quail eggs before incubating?
Ans: Ideally less than 7 days, and no more than about 10 days. Store them at 55 to 65°F, pointed end down, and avoid the refrigerator, because hatch rates decline with age and cold storage.
Q: Can you incubate quail eggs without an incubator?
Ans: It is possible, but unreliable. Coturnix quail have largely lost the instinct to sit on eggs, and quail eggs need steady temperature and humidity. A basic forced-air incubator gives far more consistent results than improvised methods.
Q: Why are my quail eggs not hatching?
Ans: The most common causes are infertile eggs, temperature swings, humidity that was too high during incubation or too low at lockdown, and eggs that were too old when set. Candle on day 7 to separate infertile eggs from eggs that stopped developing.
Q: What is the best incubator for quail eggs?
Ans: A forced-air incubator with digital temperature control, an automatic turner with quail racks, and a viewing window. Popular choices include the HovaBator Genesis 1588, HovaBator 2370, IncuView 3 Pro, and AccuHatch 360.
Q: How many quail eggs fit in an incubator?
Ans: It depends on the model. The HovaBator Genesis 1588 holds up to 140 quail eggs without a turner, the HovaBator 2370 about 188 without a turner, and the IncuView 3 Pro 40 to 52.
Mastering Quail Egg Incubation
Incubating quail eggs at home is straightforward once you understand the basics. The right incubator, steady temperature, proper humidity, a clean lockdown, and a little patience will take a fertile egg to a healthy chick in under three weeks. If you are ready to start, browse our quail egg incubators and incubator accessories.
Sources
- Mississippi State University Extension. Important incubation factors, and Incubation duration periods.
- University of Maryland Extension. Hatching Eggs at Home (FS-1114).