Coturnix chicks 1 hour old

Here are the basic coturnix quail husbandry guidelines you need to know before you order your fertile coturnix hatching eggs.

“Test drive” your incubator to make sure it is holding both the appropriate temperature and humidity before you  receive your eggs.  Incubation procedures will depend on the type of incubator you use.  Follow your incubator manufacturers directions.

Natural incubation is also possible using Bantam hens.  Coturnix hens rarely set their own eggs.

When chicks are removed from the incubator they must be placed in an area which is heated to 100° with an unheated area which is much cooler and enough room to move between the two areas as the chicks choose.  The brooder temperature is reduced 5° each week until the chicks are able to hold their own body temperature steady.

Several food and water locations must be supplied.  For the first few days place small piles of food throughout the brooder area so the chicks can easily find food.  We recommend you use gamebird feeds for best results.  Coturnix chicks are tiny.  If you are using a chicken waterer be sure to place marbles in the water dish to prevent drowning.  Cool, clean water should be available at all times.

A ratio of one male to three females will generally produce high fertility.  The ideal temperature to maintain in your breeder house is 70° to 80° F.  Adequate ventilation is needed to replace stale air with fresh air and to remove any odors.  Breeders should be given 15-17 hours of light daily for best egg production.

Egg production is approximately 300 eggs per year.  Eggs should be collected at least once daily and stored at 55° in moist humidity for best results.  Eggs should be stored and incubated with the large end up.  Eggs lose a little fertility each day they are stored.  Daily setting is best but eggs may be held for up to seven days.

Eggs to chicks to breeding adults and back to eggs again!  So which really did come first – the hen or the egg?