Temperature "tolerance range" for incubating quail eggs?

[_Randall_]

Trying to put together a plan for building a homemade incubator for quail eggs, and was wondering what the "min-max" window was for the required temperature? I've read anywhere from 95º to 101.5º

So, how critical is it to hold the right temperature (whatever that is), and what is considered too cool & too warm? Given the fact that all thermostats are created a little "unequal" when it comes to consistancy, I don't want to choose an el-cheapo thermostat that lets me ruin my first go-round of egg hatchin'!!!

 

[shelleyd2008]

'normal' is anywhere between 97 and 102, but either extreme for too long can cause problems. You want it to hold as close to 100 as you can get.

 

[canter6]

A good target point as far as temps go is 98-101. If you can maintain that temp for the bulk of the eggs you are trying to hatch, then you are probably ok. Temps are easy to maintain, humidity is usually king, but easy.

 

[Overeasyplz]

Good to know. Got my combo thermometer/hydrometer today, and the rest of my parts for homemade incubator. Guess what I'm building tomorrow with hubby!

 

[canter6]

Quote:
I'm thinking..... A Homeadebator.

 

[Overeasyplz]

Homadeobator finished!! It is getting tuned now. Temp flux bad, added another jar of water to help..

 

[_Randall_]

Quote:
I checked your homemade bator out. Looks great!! Good luck, and keep us posted on how it's going.

 

[canter6]

Less jars, more surface area of water will increase humididy.
75% surface area of water the total volume of space should create a 45-60% humidity level at 99.5 deg. F.

 

[Kfaugeaux]

im going to be stopping turning tomorrow, we have the turn bars in ours, my book that came with the incubator says put them point side down but ive read to leave them flat for these next three days, we have jumbo quail egg mix and ive never done this before so im trying to make sure we can get at least a few to hatch. we started with 24 and 3 were obviously gone. the others im scared to toss. ive tried to use the candler on the incubator but i cant tell if theres anything happening with the spots on the shells and all. i put them in on new years day around 7 pm so tomorrow is day 14. am i doing this correctly? the humidity seems to be crazy too. i get up at midnight to check and its down to 20 when ive just checked them at 8 pm so its not been that long. temp is set at 100.4
can any one help with advice?

 

[Nabiki]

im going to be stopping turning tomorrow, we have the turn bars in ours, my book that came with the incubator says put them point side down but ive read to leave them flat for these next three days, we have jumbo quail egg mix and ive never done this before so im trying to make sure we can get at least a few to hatch. we started with 24 and 3 were obviously gone. the others im scared to toss. ive tried to use the candler on the incubator but i cant tell if theres anything happening with the spots on the shells and all. i put them in on new years day around 7 pm so tomorrow is day 14. am i doing this correctly? the humidity seems to be crazy too. i get up at midnight to check and its down to 20 when ive just checked them at 8 pm so its not been that long. temp is set at 100.4
can any one help with advice?

FYI, this thread is 15 years old, so you probably won't get a response from any of the OPs.

Do you have a calibrated thermometer or three inside the incubater? Never trust what the incubator says. They lie. A calibrated hygrometer is also a good idea.

Once you take the turners out (or stop turning), the eggs will naturally rest with the pointed end closer to the bottom. Pointy side down is the usual practice with a normal upright turner.

Humidity is less important during incubation, and some fluctuation isn't much of a problem. Once you stop turning, though, you really want to get your humidity up to the 50-60% range and keep it there. You might try adding a small dish or jar of water to increase your humidity. Surface area is what matters. The larger the surface area, the higher the humidity.

I hope this helps.