How to get quail in the incubator

Breeding quail in an incubator is considered one of the most promising sectors of the poultry industry. Eggs of birds ripen quickly, and the quails themselves are unpretentious in their care and have an exceptional taste of meat.

Features of the withdrawal of this bird are that incubation of quails at home is possible only if there is an incubator. To grow this breed began relatively recently, about 50 years ago, but now in modern agriculture quails have a special role.

Quails are unpretentious in content, so they can be successfully bred in any conditions, not necessarily in a specially equipped room.

Quail embryos have endurance and survive even with a slight deviation of temperature. For good hatchability and obtaining healthy offspring, it is important not only to buy an incubator, but also to know how to create the most favorable conditions for this.

The fact is that the hatchlings hatched in the incubator lose their natural instincts and, as a result, are not able to incubate. Incubators can be used for small farming and home use. Hatching young growth weighing only 6-8 grams, and the initial survival rate is 70%. High survival rate and large offspring make quails one of the best domestic birds for hatching at home.

How to choose quail eggs?

There are several important criteria that need to be considered before incubation. It is necessary to choose eggs for hatching, it is necessary taking into account the parameters.

1. The mass of eggs.
   • 10 -15 grams, if the bird should go for breeding,
   • 8 - 13 grams, if the bird will be used for meat.
2. The surface of the shell. Eggs should be smooth, with small dark spots on the surface of medium pigmentation, not very saturated color. There should be no projections, cracks, mold or dents on the surface. It is desirable that the surface was matte, without excess gloss.
3. Egg shape. It should be slightly elongated, slightly pointed to the top. It is desirable that all eggs in the incubator be the same size, about 2 - 2.5 cm in diameter.

Egg selection criteria

Before you put quail eggs in the incubator, you must view them through a special device - ovoskop.

If not, you can use an ordinary flashlight to illuminate the contents of the egg. It is important to carefully review the egg and identify any deficiencies, if any.

It is necessary to evaluate the location of the yolk, the air chamber, the presence of blood formations or the mixing of the protein with the yolk — such eggs are not suitable for incubation, and they simply cannot hatch anything.

Quail eggs for incubation are taken from females from the age of 2 months. In females older than one year, the eggs are not suitable for breeding. For breeding are taken medium-sized eggs. In small or large, there may be various disorders that place the successful breeding of healthy offspring.

Before you quail, you must properly prepare the eggs. The deadline for storage of hatching eggs is 10 days, then the visibility of the contents inside it is reduced and it is hard to understand whether a healthy egg is. You should also pay attention to the shelf life before laying different breeds of quail:

• Plain and Japanese - 17 days,
• Californian - 22 days,
• Virgin - 23 - 24 days.

It is best for incubation to take the eggs that are laying, only laid or 2-3 days old. The selection of quail eggs is important for obtaining healthy young animals, so it is important to give them enough time.

What to do before laying in the incubator

To hatch a healthy and viable baby bird, it is necessary that the egg be no older than 10 days and kept at a temperature of 10-15 ° C. Preparation of quail eggs for incubation of the most important stage of breeding quail. The percentage of young animals depends on the preparation. It is important not to keep eggs for incubation at room temperature. So they can quickly deteriorate.

The selection of quail eggs and their disinfection are necessary to increase the chicks' chances of survival. It is imperative that before putting them in the incubator, you need to wash the shells well, and it is better to use disinfectants for this. Quail eggs are laid in the incubator only after disinfection. For this you can use different methods:

• Disinfection with chemicals to destroy litter residues and bacteria. To do this, you can use "Brovadez-plus" or "Ecocide".
• Use ultraviolet radiation lamp. The method of quartz treatment is to irradiate the shell before incubation at a distance of 40 cm from the surface for 5-8 minutes.
• Wash the shell with potassium permanganate. It is necessary to make a weak solution of potassium permanganate and gently wash the shell, trying not to damage its integrity.

Quail eggs can be laid in an incubator only when it is disinfected. It can also be treated with a weak solution of potassium permanganate, which will destroy all pathogenic bacteria and pathogens. Then, it is recommended to set a high level of humidity and temperature in order to warm up the device for several hours before laying eggs there.

How to lay quail eggs

There are several ways to lay eggs in trays: horizontally and vertically. The first method involves horizontal laying, in which they roll from one side to another, rolling. With vertical masonry, the capacity of the quantity is less, but the percentage of maturation is higher.

Vertical way

In the incubators with a vertical tab there is no automatic mode of coup. If there is no tray in the kit, you can do it yourself. Quail eggs should be placed in the incubator with a blunt end up, tilting them at 45 degrees. In this position, the embryo will be formed in a comfortable position.

Horizontal way

Incubation in a horizontal way requires laying eggs on the grid. In order not to get confused when turning over, you need to note one side.

There is almost no particular difference between the ways of bookmarking, or rather there is, but it is insignificant.

The capacity of the vertical tab is less, but the percentage of hatched chicks is higher, while with a horizontal tab, you can accommodate a larger number, but their output is less.

If we talk about the results, then with a vertical laying of 200 eggs you can get 170 quail, and with a vertical method of 190 pieces you can get 150 - 160 chicks.

It is better to spray the shell with water once or twice a day so that there is enough moisture for the development of the embryo. Incubation of quail without a coup will not give a high percentage of offspring, because the yolk in one position can stick to the shell and the embryo will not be able to develop.

To avoid sticking of the yolk to the shell, it is recommended to turn them over at least twice a day.

Temperature in the incubator

To control the temperature in the incubator, you need to put a thermometer inside the incubator on alcohol, even if there is a thermostat in it. This is necessary to control the temperature with an accuracy of one tenth of a percent. Before you put a mortgage you need to warm the camera. The temperature should not exceed 38.2 ° С. At this temperature, you need to warm the camera for two hours and then reduce it to 37.6 ° C.

It is important to establish the correct temperature regime in the chamber, since it depends on the temperature whether the chicks hatch out healthy or if this results in the death of the embryos. At low temperatures, the embryo will not be able to form normally, and the conclusion may be delayed for 1-2 days.

1-7 day

In the first week it is recommended to keep the bookmark at a temperature of 37.8 ° C. Humidity should not exceed 50-55%. You need to turn the eggs 3-4 times a day. About airing - read below (after the table).

8-14 day

In the second week you need to leave the temperature the same as in the first. The moisture level should be reduced to 45 - 50%. Turning masonry need every 5 hours. You can cool masonry 2 times a day for 20 minutes.

15-17 day

In the third week you need to reduce the temperature. The temperature should not be below 37.4 ° C, and the humidity should be increased to 60-65%. Eggs do not need to be cooled or turned, since the embryos are already formed and embryos can stick to the shell.

Every day you need to air the camera and spray masonry. By the end of the third week should appear the first chicks. If some eggs have already hatched, while others are not, then you can leave them for another 1-2 days in an incubator.

Ventilation and humidity in the quail eggs incubator

It is important to maintain the necessary humidity in the chamber, otherwise the egg will dry out. At low humidity, the embryos can stick to the shell. If there is not enough moisture, then the shell itself hardens and it is difficult for chicks to get out of it. The incubator has a capacity for water inlet. It is important to regularly fill the water, depending on the volume and its flow. One of the most important moments is the choice of water. Incubation requires boiled or distilled water.

Each incubator has a ventilation system. But even with artificial ventilation, it is necessary to open the lid of the chamber and let the brood be ventilated for 5-10 minutes. It is provided in nature and any hen gets up to eat and drink water. In the first two days of incubation do not need to be aired. From 3-4 days to air the bookmark, including the ventilation system.

Incubation stages

When viewing the eggs through the ovoscope, it is clear that the yolk is separated from the protein. From the first days of life, the egg quail is clearly visible. The embryo begins to form from the first week of incubation. It will be immediately apparent whether he is alive or not. If the middle of it will be dark, and around him a light border, then the embryo died.

In the second week, a well-developed capillary network is seen. It should occupy a quarter of the total space. If the vascular system is not visible in the second week, then the embryo has died. In the third week, when viewed with an ovoscope, the embryo should be completely dark.

When the quail hatch, on what day of incubation?

Starting from the 16th day of incubation, the first brood begins to appear. It is not necessary that all chicks appear on the same day. They can still appear on the 17-20 day. It is not necessary to immediately remove them from the incubator. You need to let them dry and get used to the environment.

One hour is enough, and then they can be pulled out. Independent chicks hatch from the eggs, so you need to take care of them in advance and prepare food and water.

The first brood weighing no more than 8 grams, but they are already in the gun, they can eat and drink water. From the second week, the chicks begin to increase in weight and turn into adults.

Common mistakes newbies

It is not always possible to get a healthy brood with a high percentage of survival from the first time. There are several reasons why a brood may not work.

1. Malnutrition. In the process of incubation, the embryos do not have enough moisture, which is why the protein does not feed the yolk and dries out. This leads to the fact that the embryo dies. It is important to pay attention to the diet of the hen so that she has enough vitamins and microelements, and she was able to make a healthy egg, and from it came strong offspring.
2. Disruption of incubation. A common reason why healthy offspring cannot be obtained is the incorrectly set temperature in the chamber and the low level of humidity. Violation of these important criteria leads to the fact that embryos die or do not have time to form at all.
3. Bad airing. Despite the fact that most modern incubators are equipped with an airing system, you must not forget to open the lid of the chamber and allow fresh air to go inside.
4. Turning eggs. If it is wrong to turn a bookmark or do it rarely, the germ may stick to the shell and die. Also, the protein can not be used in full, which is also the cause of death of the young.

To avoid failures, it is necessary to familiarize yourself with the functionality of the incubator and take into account all the recommendations for the removal of quails. Incubation of quails is a difficult process that requires patience, so it is important to follow all the rules and mode of breeding, and then you can get an excellent result.

What breeds of quail are suitable for incubation

There are eleven breeds of quail for breeding quail in an incubator:

In Russia, the "Manchurian" type of quail is bred. This category differs from others in that it actively takes eggs and is used in meat production. They are also popular in Europe,

• In China, these are “Chinese painted” quails. The unpretentious bird, adapts to any conditions (except a frost). The disadvantages of this breed category include the small size of the bird itself,
• In the US, these are the "Texas", "California" and "Virginia" species of quail. The latter is derived for the production of meat and for park areas as an ornament, since the bird has a beautiful yellow-blue feather color. But the most popular American type of quail is the "Pharaoh", which has good characteristics on the socks of eggs,
• In the UK, these are “black” and “white” quails, which are carried on day 45 in a row from birth, as well as a “tuxedo” look, having an unusual coloring of feathers,
• In Estonia, this is “Estonian quail”. It is distinguished by high productivity from other breeds of quail, because it begins to rush already at 40 days after birth.

One quail can carry 1-2 eggs per day (depending on the breed of bird and its age). In a month it is possible to get 20-30 eggs. In one year, about 300 eggs come out.

After three demolitions of eggs, the bird rests for up to four days. In addition, it should be noted that the peak of a footnote can rise and fall in different periods of time:

• In quails of the carrier rock, productivity declines by 1.5 times in the tenth month,
• In quails of other breeds, by the end of this period, productivity decreases by a factor of 2-3.

In healthy quails, starting from the third (maybe earlier) month, egg-stock is actively developing.

Important! It should be borne in mind that the pairing of quails of one species can be waited for a very long time, therefore it is better to buy males of another species. In addition, it will increase the percentage of healthy babies.

Incubation of quail at home

In order to proceed to the withdrawal of the quail family at home, it is necessary to prepare a separate place for brood and equip it, as well as to provide the desired temperature for breeding chicks.

Before you get quails for brood eggs, it should be noted that some categories of birds are not adapted to hatching eggs, but only for footnotes. Therefore, it is necessary to approach this issue very responsibly and accurately calculate the batch of eggs for incubation.

For hatching eggs at home, incubators are used that maintain a constant temperature inside the structure. Incubators are of the following types:

• Home incubators,
• Production incubators (for mass production for sale).

We are interested in the first type - this is home incubators. They were created specifically for the divorce of a small number of birds. Weigh is not much, which allows him to move freely. Compact in size and this is a plus if the place to install this device is quite limited.

Incubator for eggs can be purchased at the store. The range of goods is wide and is now popular.

• If funds allow you to purchase such a device, then first of all it is necessary to pay attention to the functionality and capacity of the incubator,
• If there is not enough money, you can create an incubator with your own hands, using inexpensive materials and sponsored funds.

The best choice would be an automated incubator with self-rotating mechanism. This will save your time, since throughout the entire period of egg laying, they need to be turned over in order to avoid the chick's placenta sticking to the shell.

After purchasing an egg incubator, it must be cleaned and sanitized, checked for operability, and also familiarized with the technical operation of the device. With proper use of the tool for hatching eggs, later there will be no problems with its settings.

In addition, you need to study in advance the phased planning of quail eggs in the incubator:

• At the initial stage (from 1 to 5 days), all the settings of the incubator are checked and adjusted (incubation temperature, humidity, ventilation), the water is filled in the right quantity,
• In the second stage (starting from the third day), we set the temperature regime to 38 degrees Celsius and slightly overestimate the humidity indicator,
• At the third stage (starting from the tenth day), we set in the incubator a low percentage of humidity (from 40 to 45%) and ventilation, since the in-embryo is already breathing,
• The last stage (from the beginning of the second week) of egg exposure, all vertical eggs are turned over to the horizontal position and the humidity in the incubator is again set at 75%.

What temperature should be in the incubator, read below.

Choosing Eggs

When choosing quail eggs for incubation, it is necessary to take into account a number of nuances:

• mass for breeding birds - 10-15 g,
• масса для выращивания птенцов на мясо – 8-13 г,
• индекс формы (отношение меньшего диаметра к большему, выраженное в процентах) 65-70 %,
• отсутствие пороков скорлупы (насечек, наростов, неровностей),
• матовая поверхность.

После этого яйца нужно осмотреть через овоскоп или «на просвет». This will determine the following disadvantages:

• blood inclusions,
• mixed yolk and white
• wrong location
• size of the air chamber.

In the incubator, you must put the eggs that will meet the following criteria:

1. Correct oval shape.
2. Weight. It is determined taking into account the breed of quail. If it is eggs of meat breeds, then the weight is 16 g, and layers - 11-14 g.
3. The surface of the egg. It should be perfect, no plaques or dashes.

Quail eggs are stored in a well-ventilated area. Temperature range should be within 10-20 degrees. The room should be 60-70% humidity. To maintain, install water tanks, clean floors and perform wet cleaning of all other surfaces. Quail eggs, prepared for incubation, should be stored, laid on its side, on open shelves. Keep out of direct sunlight. The windows in the room where eggs are stored for incubation must be closed.

Incubation machine

The automatic incubator takes care of the tab from the first day until the chicks appear. The minimum number of eggs planted is indicated in the instructions attached to the device. It indicates the mode, the days of the bookmark and the approximate dates of brood.

Automatic mode ensures the safety of the material used, collected in advance. At home, the content of the incubator is simple. It is necessary to process the grating, parts of the machine and the shell.

Regardless of the type of incubation machine, the following items are included in the installation kit of each of them:

• trays for “keeping” eggs until chick is received,
• devices for heating the air and maintaining the required temperature,
• devices to maintain the required level of humidity,
• ventilation devices,
• alarm and electrics,
• devices for turning trays with material.

Ventilation

During incubation, the eggs absorb oxygen and emit carbon dioxide. So they need fresh air. In addition, in the car the air must be constantly mixed so that its humidity and temperature are the same throughout the chamber volume.

Incubators are equipped with one or more fans. They suck air from the intake vent. In different devices there are various fans that differ in size of the blades, power, number of revolutions. Their location and control of air flow inside the incubator may be different.

Temperature and humidity parameters

The duration of the incubation period is 18 days. The temperature and humidity of the incubation of quail eggs is determined by the stage of the process.

The duration of the incubation period is 18 days. What incubation temperature of quail eggs should be set depends on the stage of the process:

1. The first stage. Temperature indicators should be 37.7 degrees, and humidity - 50-60%.
2. Second stage Temperature indicators - 37.7 degrees, humidity 50%. It is necessary to carry out ventilation through special openings or during short-term opening of the apparatus lid.
3. The third stage. The temperature is 37.5 degrees, and the humidity is 65-75%.

Preparation for laying eggs

Before laying eggs in the incubator, prepare the device itself. It needs to be washed and sanitized. At home, this is done in two ways:

1. Use solutions such as Brovadez-plus or Ecocide.
2. Prokvartsevat lamp for 8 minutes, which can be purchased at the pharmacy.

Important! Be sure to pour water into the tank, set up and turn on the machine for 2-3 hours to make it idle. This will allow you to believe the health of the thermostat.

Wash and wipe the eggs before incubation is not worth it, otherwise you can damage the numb shell. It protects the egg from germ penetration.

Loading material

It is not always possible to select eggs of equal size. But in order for all the chicks to appear at the same time, you should use the following instruction:

1. First send large eggs to the incubator. After 4 hours you can put averages. The latest in the apparatus send small eggs.
2. Medium and small in size eggs should be laid upright and large eggs horizontally.

Quail eggs are in the incubator for 18 days. After hatching, the chicks remain in the apparatus for another 12-15 hours, and then they are transferred to a brooder.

Egg development by day

The time intervals after which a need arises for a change in environmental conditions are divided into periods of embryonic development:

• First phase.
  • its duration is seven days,
  • the temperature is maintained at 37.8 degrees,
  • humidity not more than 55%,
  • Coup - 4 times a day,
  • no cooling
• Second phase - this is the phase of active growth of the embryo: duration - from the 8th to the 14th day,
  • temperature - 37.8 degrees,
  • humidity is reduced to 50%,
  • a coup is carried out every fifth hour
  • start to spend daily cooling eggs twice for 20 minutes
• Third phase:
  • Duration from the 15th to the 17th day
  • the temperature is reduced to 37.4 degrees,
  • humidity increases up to 65%
  • turning over is not
  • cooling is not.

Ovoscopic eggs

Quail egg poorly translucent on the ovoskop due to the dark color of the shell. So the details can not be seen:

1. On days 6–7, ovoscopic examination is performed in order to remove non-fertilized eggs. They completely let the light through, and their color is bright-bright. Those in whom life originated have an education below. It looks like a small clot.
2. At the end of the first week, see if all the embryos are alive. If, when viewed through an ovoscope, it is found that a bright border passes along the border of a dark spot, then this indicates that the embryo has died.
3. In the second week, you need to look for the vascular system. When radiating eggs on it visible grid of capillaries. It will occupy 1/4 of the total egg volume. If it is smaller, then this indicates that it is absent, the embryo ceased its development.
4. On days 15-16, ovoscoping is performed. When viewing the egg it should be dark, that is, the chick has already fully developed and occupied all the space.

Overturning and spraying

Egg flipping should be performed as follows:

1. 7th day - 4 times a day.
2. Day 14 - 4-6 times a day.
3. 15-18 days - 4-6 times a day.

After turning the eggs is to spray with water, making a light haze. Just spray the material so that the water does not flow. Wait 1.5 minutes and close the incubators.

Attention! It is impossible to spray eggs right after opening the incubator, you need to wait a bit. If water falls on hot eggs, it is stressful for the embryo.

The appearance of chicks

Hatching is as follows:

1. A crack forms and a squeak is heard from it. If you take the egg in your hands and bring it to your ear, you can hear the baby scratching.
2. Increased crack. This does not happen immediately, but gradually, and a small hole is also formed.
3. The chick makes the last effort, the shell cracks and breaks into 2 parts.
4. After the release, the chick should dry. It takes 1-2 hours.

Features care for the young

Keeping chickens for 7 days requires compliance with the following rules:

1. Temperature mode. Newborns should be in a room where the air temperature is 30 degrees. After 5 days, it can be lowered to 28 degrees.
2. Lighting should be around the clock.
3. Keep the box where the chicks are kept clean. Lay paper or soft cloth on the bottom. Change it every day. After 5 days, the young should be transferred to the cells with a fine-meshed floor and a dung shield.
4. Daily chicks will feel comfortable if they are seated on 25-30 individuals per 1m2. Increase space from 4 years old.
5. Feeding. It is worth starting to feed the chicks no sooner than after 12 hours. The first meal is corn grits. On the second day, wheat, semolina and low-fat dairy products enter the ration. From the 3rd day greens are added. To the chick could easily use the grass, process it with boiling water, grind and combine with grain. Feed the chicks every 2-3 hours.
6. Drink. In the drinkers should always be fresh and clean water. In the first hours of the youngsters to give a solution of glucose. Already from the second day you can give yogurt.

Possible errors and their elimination

Incubation of quail eggs will be successful only under all conditions. But there are situations when the process was unsuccessful. The following errors can affect this:

1. Inadequate nutrition of laying quails. For the normal development of the embryo, the egg must have been healthy, containing the required amount of trace elements and vitamins.
2. Violation of temperature and humidity levels in the process of incubation.
3. Improper airing.
4. Rare egg rotation.
5. Remaining unsuitable material in the incubator.

It is necessary to choose an incubator taking into account technical characteristics and additional functions: mode of operation, turning of eggs, availability of a box for keeping chicks in the first weeks of life. Buy eggs from a trusted manufacturer. Thus, it will be possible to save money and gain experience.

If mistakes were made in the process of incubation, this is fraught with a number of consequences:

• suspension of embryo development
• the birth of chicks with ugliness,
• Chicks are born so weak that they can die the very next day after hatching.

How to make an incubator for quail eggs with your own hands

To make an incubator yourself, you need to prepare the following materials:

• incandescent lamp in 40 W or 4 pieces of 15 W,
• box,
• Styrofoam,
• plywood,
• metal grid.

The procedure is as follows:

1. With plywood sheathe box. Perform additional insulation using foam.
2. In the bottom make several small holes, the diameter of which is 1 cm.
3. In the lid make a window of glass so that you can monitor the state of the material and temperature.
4. Inside the box below the roof mount wiring with cartridges. They must be located in every corner.
5. A little higher bottom fix the tray with the eggs on the foam support.
6. Now pull the metal mesh over the tray.

The process of incubating quail eggs is a very responsible matter. To obtain healthy young stock, it is worth observing the temperature, humidity, choosing a high-quality material for incubation. And after the release of the chicks to provide them with proper care, as they still have a weak immunity.

The mode of incubation of quail eggs at home

In order to breed successfully, it is necessary to observe a certain regime, which, as a rule, is presented in special tables. But there are some general rules for hatching.

The main conditions that must be met to comply with the regime include (picture 1):

• Proper egg placement in the incubator: it is believed that the tab can be carried out both vertically and horizontally. But experience shows that with a vertical tab, the percentage of hatchability of young stock is significantly higher, although in this position they take up much more space. Several times a day, it is necessary to carry out a coup for a uniform heating of the material.
• Temperature control This is done using a normal thermometer (for simple incubators) or a thermostat (for models with automatic systems).
• Support for temperature and humidity conditions and ventilation. Usually, the temperature is laid out in special tables, with the help of which poultry farmers can independently provide the necessary conditions for breeding. Starting from the third day, regular airing is performed, opening the lid of the incubator and sprinkling the shells with water.

Figure 1. Mode required for breeding chicks.

At first, airing is done briefly, for 2-3 minutes, and then gradually prolong it to 5-7 minutes. In the case of spraying, it is necessary to ensure that the surface is wet, but not wet, because after closing the lid of the device on the shell condensate is formed, which can adversely affect the development of embryos.

Note: Because of the need for a regular coup or a coup (by opening the lid), it is better to buy modern models of devices with automatic systems. Breeding young stock in such incubators practically does not require human participation.

The humidity of the air inside the chamber is not considered the most important indicator, but it must be maintained at an optimal level at the initial stage. Immediately after the laying, a lot of liquid is released, and at low humidity the embryos will experience a strong oxygen starvation. The second important stage in which a certain level of humidity must be observed is the period of hatching. If the air is too dry, the hype shell will become too dense and the chicks will not be able to get out on their own. However, excessive humidity can be detrimental to the embryo, as in such conditions pathogens and bacteria actively develop.

Secrets of incubation

There are several nuances that will help increase the number of hatching chicks and make them healthier and more viable.

In order for breeding of young stock to be successful, it is important not only to observe the incubation regime at home, but also to select the right raw materials.

The main secrets of breeding quail include:

• Laying hen at the time of laying need to be fed a balanced feed with a high content of vitamins and minerals. Without observance of this condition, the chicks will be born weak and will not be able to pierce the shell.
• At the end of the inference it is necessary to strictly observe the temperature regime and regularly conduct airing. Overheating or insufficient cooling can cause the death of the embryo from suffocation.
• Incorrect or rare turning over can also cause the death of chicks. In this case, the embryo does not fully utilize the squirrel, and the chick is born weak, and sometimes even dies before hatching.

If the poultry farmer failed to get healthy and strong youngsters, and in the incubator, specimens with frozen embryos were found, they must be opened to establish the cause of the pathology and to take measures that will not allow such a phenomenon in the future.

In comparison with other poultry, quails hatch quickly. This process takes only 17 days, and puberty in birds begins within six weeks after birth.

Note: The main rule of breeding is to use an incubator. In the process of breeding, the instinct of brooding has completely disappeared in females, therefore the young can only be obtained artificially.

For incubation, you can use the usual device, although some poultry farmers prefer to buy special devices for quail.

In the future, the removal of quail is carried out according to these rules. (Figure 2):

• Eggs intended for breeding should not be stored for more than a week. Before laying them necessarily inspect ovoskopom to determine the presence of possible damage.
• Material storage can be carried out only in a dark room with good ventilation and at a temperature of more than 10 degrees. Several times a day you need to carry out a coup, preferably at regular time intervals.
• An instance of a regular shape with a smooth and clean shell without growths is considered suitable. If the color of the shell is unusual, or the form itself is uncharacteristic for quails, it is better not to use such eggs.
• Before laying all the raw materials preferably washed with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.

Figure 2. The order of laying in the incubator

In general, artificial breeding quail is considered simple. Firstly, the process lasts only 17 days, and secondly it does not require too careful maintenance. The only prerequisite is a coup every four hours. If you are not able to do it manually, it is better to immediately buy an automatic incubator.

Quail Egg Incubation Scheme

Quail chicks, like adult birds, are remarkable for their vitality. Even if the incubator breaks down, you can get healthy young animals, if you remove the eggs in time, cool them slightly (up to about 18 degrees), quickly eliminate the defect of the device and restart the incubation. In this case, the development of embryos will continue, although the quails will be born a little later.

After 17 days, the hatching of the chicks begins. As a rule, this occurs within 3-4 hours. After this, it is necessary to provide the quail with suitable conditions of detention. (Figure 3):

• Leave in the incubator until they are completely dry. This period can take from 24 to 48 hours,
• Transfer chicks to a special brooder with heating lamps. The temperature inside the device must be at least 32 degrees.
• The remaining eggs are examined for damage to determine the cause of the death of the embryo.

Quail eggs incubation schedule

Incubation is carried out on a specific schedule, which includes three main stages.

The first takes only two days, and at this stage it is necessary to maintain the temperature at 37.7 degrees with a humidity of 60-70%. At this time, the coup is carried out only twice a day, but it is quite possible to do without this event without the risk of the death of embryos.

Figure 3. Detailed home incubation scheme

The second stage lasts from 3 to 15 days and is responsible for the main growth of embryos. Температура и влажность на данном этапе остаются такими же, но переворот нужно проводить регулярно (каждые 4 часа), чтобы не допускать прилипания эмбрионов к внутренней части скорлупы. Также проводят проветривание камеры, приоткрывая крышку прибора или просверливая в ее стенках небольшие вентиляционные отверстия.

The last stage is also called hatching, as in these few days or even hours the chicks are born. The temperature should be reduced to 37.5, and the humidity, on the contrary, should be raised to 80-90%. This will help soften the shell and facilitate the process of hatching quail. The rotation is no longer carried out, and to maintain the optimum level of humidity, containers are installed with water or sprayed on the shell.

Incubation of quail eggs at home: video

Very often, beginning poultry farmers have certain difficulties with the rearing of young stock. To avoid this, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with the video, which shows in detail all the stages of incubation and care for newborn chicks.

Preparation of quail eggs for incubation

Quail eggs intended for incubation are carefully selected, as they must have all the characteristic features: light weight (up to 15 grams), rounded shape and a matte surface of the shell without growths, roughness or cracks.

Before laying, it is necessary to perform ovoscopy to determine the presence of possible defects: blood clots, incorrect size or localization of the air chamber, etc., since all these indicators directly affect the quality of the young and the percentage of its hatching (Figure 4).

Eggs can be stored for no more than 10 days, while they are best kept in a dark room with good ventilation and at room temperature. If these indicators are violated, the percentage of elimination will be significantly lower.

Incubation of quail eggs without a coup

At home, they often practice incubation without a coup. This method allows you to significantly save time and effort on breeding young animals.

For this process to be successful, you need to fulfill several conditions.:

• Set the eggs in the grid incubator sharp edge down, placing them in a checkerboard pattern,
• Disinfectusing an ultraviolet lamp or radiator, which is brought 40 cm to the grating for 5-8 minutes,
• Incubation lasts two weeks and three days.. In the first 12 days, the temperature should be no more than 37.7 degrees, and humidity - a maximum of 60%.

Figure 4. Features of preparing quail eggs for incubation

The next two days, the temperature and humidity are reduced to 37.2 and 55%, respectively, and during the hatching of the chicks, the indicators also change, setting the temperature at 37 degrees and raising the humidity to 70%.

This technology assumes accurate support of temperature and humidity conditions, so it is better to immediately buy automatic incubators.

Ovoskopirovaniya quail eggs

Ovoskopirovaniya - a necessary stage in the preparation of any eggs, including quail, to breed. The first test is carried out before the start of incubation, and then repeated several times to remove substandard specimens.

In the process of ovoskopirovaniya can detect small cracks in the shell, the wrong location of the yolk and the air chamber, the presence of foreign bodies inside, as well as other possible pathology.

The procedure is carried out with a special device, an ovoscope, which you can buy immediately ready or do it yourself.

What it is

Ovoskop is a special device that operates on the principle of X-ray and shines through the inner space under the shell. With it, you can not only determine the presence of pathologies, but also control the process of embryo development.

Note: This device is very simple. In fact, it consists of a body (tube) in which a light bulb is inserted.

The egg is placed on the open end of the tube, and its internal space is illuminated by a lamp. At home, such a device can be made of ordinary tin can, a piece of plastic pipe and any lamp (incandescent or LED).

What is the procedure for?

The main purpose of the procedure is to remove damaged or poor-quality specimens in advance before incubation.

Ovoskopirovaniya quail eggs are rarely carried out, since their shells are painted in a characteristic color, because of which the internal space is poorly translucent. In addition, quails are more resistant to various infections and fungi (Figure 5).

Quail eggs marking: at what temperatures

If there is a need to check on the ovoskop, it is better to do it in a darkened room, slowly turning the ovoscope in order to fully consider the internal space.

Figure 5. Features of ovoskopirovaniya quail eggs

First of all, pay attention to the localization of the yolk. It should be centered, near the blunt end. When turning, the yolk should slowly and smoothly oscillate, returning to its original position.

And although ovoskopirovaniya is not considered a mandatory procedure, it is recommended to be held once a week to control the development of embryos.

Cooling quail eggs during incubation

Cooling is one of the key stages in the incubation of any eggs, including quail.

This procedure will relieve embryos from oxygen starvation and help maintain an optimal level of humidity and temperature.

Most often for cooling just raise the incubator cover for 15 minutes. It helps to stabilize the temperature. It is better to open the lid twice a day, in the morning and in the evening, preferably at the same time.

Spraying of eggs with clean water from a spray bottle is sometimes also used for cooling. However, in this case it is necessary to ensure that the shell was only slightly moist, but not wet.

In the most simple and inexpensive incubators, there is no function of a coup; therefore, this procedure is carried out manually, up to 6 times a day at regular intervals.

Figure 6. Cooling methods for quail eggs during incubation

Without a coup, the embryos can stick to the inner wall of the shell, and the chicks will not hatch. However, it is believed that the eggs can not turn over, it is enough to periodically cool them with water or ventilation.

How to choose quail eggs for incubation

The selection of eggs for incubation plays a key role in successful breeding. They must be clean, since the pollution of the shell can cause damage to other eggs in the incubator.

Note: If there are no other eggs for incubation, it is possible to clean the potassium permanganate in a weak solution. After that, you need to give them their own dry.

Eggs of the correct shape and size are suitable for laying, without scurf and roughness on the shell. In addition, they can not be stored for a long time. The best storage is considered to be during the week, but if this condition is observed, it is necessary to check the raw materials at the ovoscope.

Features bookmarks in the incubator

Eggs are laid in a tray either vertically, with a blunt end up, or horizontally - it all depends on the design features of a particular incubator. Let us dwell on this in more detail.

The main point is how the eggs are turned in your device. There are 2 main options:

The fixed tray, quail eggs turn over due to rolling on guides moving from below. According to this principle, both the cheapest domestic brands work: “Layer”, “Ideal hen”, “Cinderella”, “Blitz 48”, etc., as well as some high-quality R-COM models.
Placement is allowed only on the side here, otherwise the coup will not work.

The method of laying in the foam model (in the photo - "Ideal hen").

This photo illustrates the correct arrangement of eggs in the Blitz Norma tray.

The importance of a coup

Quite a few copies were broken in disputes between experienced farmers on the topic of whether a coup is necessary for the successful incubation of quail eggs. According to the personal experience of the authors webferma.com, there is no significant difference in the percentage of successful withdrawal without a coup.

This is a great advantage: breeding quail at home is no less successful in inexpensive (but high-quality) incubators than in industrial ones.

Stage 1: first day parameters

Regardless of the type of your device, the main task of the first hours is to get into working mode as soon as possible. All water tanks should be filled, if you have a cheap foam "Cinderella", etc., it will be useful to spray the spray gun on the walls with warm water.

1. The temperature on the first day is better to set higher: 38.2-38.4 ° C. This will help warm the embryo and begin the development of the embryo.
2. Humidity is maintained at the level of 65-75% in order to save moisture under the shell.
3. Ventilation during this period is unimportant, so all openings can be left closed.

Stage 2: 2-9 days

From the third day we set the standard temperature for incubating quail eggs: 37.8 ° C. During this period, the germinal envelope (allantois) develops using protein as a building material for cells. The fetus is still not breathing, and an increased humidity of 75% is necessary for the proper development process.

Ovoskopirovaniya

Unlike chickens, quail eggs are less transparent due to the dark color of the shell, so the details of the development will not work. However, for 6–7 days, it makes sense to do ovoscopy in order to remove those that are not fertilized: they completely let in the light and look bright light (bright green, bright yellow). Those in whom life originated at this time have a dark formation below, similar to a small clot.

In this photo - quail eggs under the ovoscope: empty on the left, fertilized on the left, in which the development of the fetus began.

Stage 3: 10-14 days

At this moment, the allantois under the shell closes, and the nestling begins to grow rapidly. The egg begins to breathe, so all the vents open. At this stage, the unused moisture from the protein begins to separate, and in order to properly incubate quail eggs, it is necessary to reduce the humidity in the incubator to 40-45%. The temperature remains the same, 37.8 ° C.

Stage 4: 14-18 days

From the 14th day of the egg, if they were laid vertically, laid out horizontally, the coup turned off. Humidity is again increased to 75%, this is necessary to soften the inner shell of the egg. If it is dry, the diaper will not be able to get out, and it will perish!

In foam incubators (such as "Cinderella", "Layers", etc.), from the second week we reduce the temperature to 37.2-37.4 ° С, because the embryos begin to actively release heat, in them due to imperfections in the structure, overheating may occur. In models equipped with high-precision thermostats (R-Com, Brinsea, etc.), you can not touch the heating settings.

Hatching

The incubation period for quails lasts 16 days, almost an hour per hour. This means that if you made a bookmark early in the morning, then on the 16th day, closer to dinner, the chicks will hatch.

For example, if on Thursday, June 15, 2017 at 13 o'clock you laid an incubation egg, then the first batch will be ready for transfer to a brooder on Saturday, July 1, at about 19 o'clock. The second wave will arrive in time for Sunday morning, the third - in the evening, and the last on Monday morning.

It makes sense to leave the incubator working for three days after the first quail.

Useful tips

A few additional recommendations for incubating quail eggs will help beginners to get consistently positive results.

1. Do not often open the lid of the incubator to "just see how things are." Even for a few seconds, the humidity inside decreases.
2. Additional calcium evaporation during wetting makes the shell harder. Therefore, it is better to use soft or boiled water for moistening.
3. It is necessary to remove newly hatched chicks no more than once every 3-4 hours. Toddlers must dry out in order for their feathers to dry properly. After that, it is useful to sprinkle warm water from the spray gun onto the walls of the incubator in order to restore the humidity inside.
4. At home, Japanese, Estonian and other egg-bearing breeds are the least demanding for incubation conditions. Broiler Texas quails are more capricious and require precise compliance with all parameters, from the table at the beginning of the article.
5. It is very convenient to create reminders on your phone or computer, which will not allow you to miss key points: 10 and 15 days.