Ovatekly · Quail
A quail egg incubator, and the 17 days.
The settings for Japanese (coturnix) and bobwhite quail, the calendar, and how many quail eggs each Ovatekly takes: 22, 120, 245 or 750 per batch (manufacturer ratings).
Short answer
Japanese (coturnix) quail hatch in 17 to 18 days at 99.5 °F (37.5 °C) and 58 to 62 % relative humidity. On day 15, stop turning and hold 99 °F at 66 to 74 % until the hatch (Texas A&M AgriLife). Bobwhite quail take longer: about 23 days, with lockdown on day 20 or 21.
Capacity
How many quail eggs fit
| Model | Quail eggs per batch | Chicken eggs per batch | Price | Per quail egg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ovatekly Compact | 22 | 9 | US$129 | about US$5.86 |
| Ovatekly Home | 120 | 48 | US$329.99 | about US$2.75 |
| Ovatekly Pro | 245 | 98 | US$399 | about US$1.63 |
| Ovatekly Farm | 750 | 300 | US$699 | about US$0.93 |
Manufacturer ratings per batch. How many of your own eggs fit depends on their size.
The rollers adjust to egg size, so the same machine takes quail one batch and chicken the next. Every size turns every egg every two hours, holds its temperature on its own with an alarm if it drifts, and is refilled from outside through external water bottles. The Home, Pro and Farm show humidity on the display; the Compact shows temperature only.
The numbers
Quail egg incubator settings
| Japanese (coturnix) quail | Bobwhite quail | |
|---|---|---|
| Days to hatch | 17–18 (Texas A&M); 17 (Mississippi State) | 23 (Texas A&M); 23–24 (Mississippi State) |
| Temperature, set stage | 99.5 °F / 37.5 °C (Texas A&M); 100 °F forced air (Mississippi State) | 99.5 °F / 37.5 °C; 100 °F forced air |
| Humidity, set stage | 58–62 % (Texas A&M); wet bulb 85–86 °F (Mississippi State) | 54–58 %; wet bulb 84–87 °F |
| Stop turning (lockdown) | Day 15 | Day 21 (Texas A&M); after day 20 (Mississippi State) |
| Temperature, last days | 99 °F / 37.2 °C | 99 °F / 37.2 °C |
| Humidity, last days | 66–74 %; wet bulb 90 °F | 66–74 %; wet bulb 90 °F |
Sources: Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Incubating and Hatching Eggs (POSC-PU-018, 2022), Table 1; Mississippi State University Extension, Important Incubation Factors. Mississippi State gives humidity as a wet-bulb temperature, and its temperatures are for forced-air machines (add 2 to 3 °F for still air).
Every Ovatekly leaves the factory set to 100 °F (37.8 °C), Mississippi State’s forced-air figure for quail, and the setting is adjustable on the panel. The full chart for other species is in the temperature and humidity chart.
Japanese quail
The quail calendar
| Day | What happens |
|---|---|
| Day 0 | Let stored eggs warm to room temperature for 4 to 8 hours, then set them small end lower than the large end (Texas A&M). Note the date. |
| Days 1 to 4 | Leave the lid shut. Check the display once a day and the water every two or three days. |
| Around day 5 to 7 | Candle if you can. Quail shells are speckled, and Texas A&M notes that dark or speckled eggs are harder to read than white ones, so do not keep handling an egg you cannot see into. |
| Day 15 | Lockdown: stop turning, raise the humidity to 66 to 74 %, and keep the lid shut from here (Texas A&M; Mississippi State). |
| Day 17 to 18 | Hatch. Leave the chicks in until they are dry, about 24 hours, then move them to a warm brooder with water and feed (Texas A&M). |
Source: Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Incubating and Hatching Eggs (POSC-PU-018, 2022); Mississippi State University Extension, Important Incubation Factors.
Do not set quail eggs with chicken eggs in the same batch. Texas A&M advises against mixing species whose incubation periods differ: the quail would need lockdown three days before the chickens.
Choosing
Which size for quail
Choose the smallest one that takes the batch you will set at once. For a first quail hatch or a classroom, the Compact takes 22 quail eggs. For a small covey kept for eggs, the Home takes 120 and shows humidity on its display. The Pro (245) and the three-tray Farm (750) are for people who sell chicks or hatch every few weeks.
Every Ovatekly comes with 21 days of Hatch Support, which follows your species: email a photo of the display to contact@ovatekly.com and a person answers. Free tracked shipping across the US, a 1-year limited warranty and 30-day returns.
Questions
Questions people ask
How long do quail eggs take to hatch in an incubator?
What temperature and humidity do quail eggs need?
When is lockdown for quail eggs?
How many quail eggs fit in an Ovatekly?
Can I hatch quail eggs with chicken eggs?
Can you candle quail eggs?
Sources
Where the numbers come from
- Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Incubating and Hatching Eggs (POSC-PU-018, 2022), Table 1.
- Mississippi State University Extension, Important Incubation Factors.
Updated . Written by the Ovatekly team. Temperatures, humidity levels and incubation periods on this page are general references from the extension publications named beside them, not Ovatekly specifications.
More from the hatch guides
A person for the whole hatch.
Every Ovatekly comes with Hatch Support: email a photo of your display or a candled egg to contact@ovatekly.com and a real person answers, from the day you set your eggs until they hatch.