posted 8 years ago
Hi and welcome to Permies!
I don't know if I can offer very much help to you but ...My friend raises quail, but I don't know what kind they are. I take care of them when he's away.
I know the first hatch he tried, he lost quite a few. Each time since, he's learned a little more each time. The temperature and humidity can't fluctuate very much and he was always worried the power would go out. Turning is very important also. He has an incubator that turns them automatically. Also, if they don't hatch on their own, there's not much use in helping them to break out. Those, if they live, will a lot of times have deformities and fail to thrive.
This is something I copied from PurelyPoultry.com:
Incubation Time: Jumbo Brown Coturnix Quail Hatching Eggs will hatch in about 18 days.
Temperature/Humidity: Jumbo Brown Coturnix Quail Hatching Eggs will hatch best if incubated at 100 degrees F, decreasing to 98.5 degrees F during the final three days of incubation. Humidity should be kept at 45-55% until day 14, when it should be raised to 55-65% until the chicks hatch. Turning the eggs three times a day for the first 14 days is a solid practice. After day 14, stop turning the eggs.
Special Incubation Notes: Start up your incubator 2-3 days before your eggs are due to arrive. This gives your incubator time to come fully to temperature and to stabilize humidity levels. It is also a good practice to let your newly arrived eggs rest at room temperature for about 12 hours before placing them in an incubator. Place them large side up in a clean and dry egg carton. Incubators should be kept in a room with a constant even temperature and out of the sun.
I hope it helps. Be sure to check out the Similar threads section at the bottom of this page.
Good luck!
With forty shades of green, it's hard to be blue.
Garg 'nuair dhùisgear! Virtutis Gloria Merces