Quail (Coturnix) Egg Incubation Schedule
Quail (Coturnix) eggs hatch 17 days after setting — candle on day 7 and day 12, start lockdown on day 14.
Figures reviewed against university extension guidance · Last reviewed July 2026
- Schedule
- —
- pick a set date to see your hatch schedule
The quail (coturnix) schedule, day by day
| Day | What happens |
|---|---|
| 0 | Set eggs in a pre-warmed, running incubator. Turning starts now. |
| 7 | Candle: pull clear (infertile) eggs and any showing a blood ring or stopped development. |
| 12 | Candle: pull clear (infertile) eggs and any showing a blood ring or stopped development. |
| 14 | Lockdown: stop turning, raise humidity to 65–70%, keep the lid closed. |
| 17 | Hatch day. Leave chicks in until fully dry and active. |
Incubation period per Mississippi State University Extension. Real hatches spread a day either side of the calendar — temperature is the usual reason.
What to know about hatching quail (coturnix) eggs
Coturnix quail run on the fastest clock in the backyard: 17–18 days from set to hatch. Everything happens quicker — lockdown lands on day 14 — and the chicks are tiny, so have a quail-size brooder ready before you set. (Bobwhite quail are different birds entirely at ~23 days.)
Whatever the species, lockdown is always the last three days: turning stops so the embryo can position for hatch, humidity goes up so shell membranes stay pliable, and the incubator stays shut — every peek drops the humidity your hatch depends on. Use the calculator above for exact dates from your set date, or the full Egg Incubation Calculator to compare species.
Other species
Sources
- Mississippi State University Extension — Incubation Duration Periods