Kerala, India
Beyond being able to enjoy fresh eggs and have a quality meal periodically, one of the most captivating aspects of this pursuit is to artificially incubate the eggs. Beginning around Easter each year, eggs are gathered daily and placed in a cool humid location; the basement is perfect for egg storage. Eggs are stored with the pointed end facing down and retained for no more than seven days. The eggs are then transferred to an incubator for the required number of days for the chicks to develop inside the eggs. Coturnix quail develop in 17-18 days while Bobwhite quail need 23 days. There are numerous incubators to select from. The HOVA-BATOR incubator was introduced over 25 years ago and is the first one I began with. This incubator is constructed of styrofoam. It is highly susceptible to fluctuations in room temperature so if you choose to purchase one of these, it should be situated in a room where the temperature remains constant. Obtain one with a turbofan to enhance the air circulation within.
If you ever progress into breeding rare and endangered species, you will likely want to invest in something more advanced like a Sportsman 1202, a cabinet style incubator. Both the HOVA-BATOR and the Sportsman 1202 are manufactured by GQF Manufacturing Company located in Savannah, Georgia. Artificial incubation is both an art and a science. To achieve excellent results when incubating, you need precisely the right combination of quality eggs, a temperature which remains constant, adequate ventilation, and proper moisture conditions. Be certain to read the instructions and either purchase or borrow a book from the library on incubation. And, if you opt to begin with a HOVA-BATOR, you should invest in an automatic turner unless you want to turn the eggs yourself daily, at least three times.
Once the eggs are prepared to hatch, you need to elevate the humidity so that the chicks don’t become stuck as they’re emerging from their shell. This is accomplished by filling the troughs in the bottom of the incubator tray with water. Three days before hatching, the eggs should be positioned on top of the hardware cloth (wire mesh) which accompanies the incubator. If a turner was utilized, it should be removed. The hardware cloth provides them an excellent foothold when they attempt to stand. Some people place newspaper on top of the wire which is a serious mistake as it is too slippery and results in crippled chicks. As a matter of fact, I have even begun using something called “slip grip” on top of the hardware cloth in the incubator. You can purchase this at your local home improvement store. It’s the same material people use for lining the shelves in their cupboards to prevent expensive dishware from sliding off when positioned vertically. It’s completely washable and reusable. The chicks should remain in the incubator for 24 hours. During hatching, avoid opening the incubator because it causes the moisture to escape and maintaining that moisture is critically important for a successful hatch. Depending on which model you’re using, hatching can occur over a very brief or somewhat extended time period. Eggs developing in the Sportsman will hatch within a few hours whereas those from a HOVA-BATOR require a full day and sometimes two days. That’s because the Sportsman is a superior machine than the HOVA-BATOR. Don’t invest in a Sportsman until you’ve been practicing this for a couple of years and you know that you want to continue this for the long term. A Sportsman incubator is a substantial capital investment if you’re just experimenting to see if you enjoy it or not.