Gambel’s quail (Callipepla gambelii) are a small ground-dwelling bird native to the desert regions of the southwestern United States and Mexico. Determining the optimal incubation temperature for their eggs is an important consideration for anyone looking to breed these quail in captivity.
Natural History of Gambel’s Quail
Gambel’s quail live in arid habitats such as desert scrub, open woodlands, and grasslands. They are predominantly ground-nesting birds, building simple scrapes on the ground lined with grasses and leaves for their nests. The breeding season for Gambel’s quail depends on their geographic location, but generally occurs from spring through summer.
Like other quail species, Gambel’s quail have high reproductive rates, with hens laying large clutches of 12-16 eggs on average. The eggs are creamy white and oval shaped. Only the hen incubates the eggs, with incubation lasting 22-23 days on average before the eggs hatch.
Both parents will care for the precocial young after hatching. The chicks are able to leave the nest shortly after hatching and begin foraging for food, although they are not able to fly until they are almost fully grown. Gambel’s quail chicks face high mortality rates from predation in their first few weeks of life.
Incubation Requirements for Gambel’s Quail Eggs
Successfully incubating Gambel’s quail eggs requires mimicking the temperature, humidity, and turning frequency conditions that would occur naturally during incubation by the hen. Below are some key guidelines for incubating Gambel’s quail eggs:
- Temperature: 99.5-100°F (37.5-37.8°C)
- Humidity: 50-60% RH during incubation, 65% RH during hatching
- Turning: Turn eggs at least 3 times per day during first 18 days of incubation
- Hatching: Stop turning eggs on day 19 and increase humidity. Eggs should hatch on day 22-23.
Incubation Temperature
The optimal incubation temperature for Gambel’s quail eggs is 99.5-100°F (37.5-37.8°C). This narrow temperature range needs to be maintained throughout the incubation period for the best hatch rates.
Temperatures lower than 99.5°F can slow embryo development and reduce hatch rates. Temperatures higher than 100°F can cause developmental issues or embryo mortality.
Use an incubator thermometer to monitor temperature. Calibrate thermometers periodically to ensure accuracy. Position thermometers at egg level inside the incubator to get proper readings.
Maintaining a stable, uniform temperature inside the incubator is also crucial. Avoid frequent temperature fluctuations or cold spots which can impact results.
Incubation Humidity
Humidity levels are also important for successful quail egg incubation:
- 50-60% RH during incubation
- 65% RH during hatching
Increased humidity on day 19 helps soften the egg shell for hatching. Use an incubator hygrometer to monitor relative humidity.
Water pans, saturated sponges or porous clay pots can be used to naturally increase humidity levels if needed. Proper ventilation is also required to prevent excess condensation.
Turning Eggs
Turning the eggs during incubation mimics the movement the hen makes. This prevents the embryo from sticking to the egg shell.
Turn Gambel’s quail eggs at least 3 times per day (odd number) during the first 18 days of incubation. After day 18, stop turning the eggs to allow the quail to orient themselves for hatching.
Manual turning by gently rocking the eggs is suitable for small incubators. Automatic egg turners are also available for larger incubators to simplify the process.
Marking an “X” on one side of each egg can help track proper turning. Always return eggs to the original position after turning.
Incubator Types for Gambel’s Quail Eggs
Many options exist for incubating Gambel’s quail eggs. Choosing the right incubator depends on factors like budget, capacity, and ease of use.
Still Air Incubators
Still air incubators (also called cabinet incubators) use passive air circulation and thermal convection to maintain incubation conditions.
Benefits include simplicity of operation and lower cost. However, temperature uniformity may be less consistent compared to forced air models.
Popular options for hobby breeding include HovaBator or Brinsea still air incubators. Turning eggs manually.
Forced Air Incubators
Forced air incubators use fans and baffles to circulate heated air and maintain precise temperature uniformity.
While more expensive, forced air models allow better temperature control and large capacities for commercial breeding.
High-end forced air incubators like Petersime or Jamesway offer fully automated humidity and turning functions.
DIY Homemade Incubators
Simple homemade incubators can also be used for small-scale quail egg incubation. Common designs modify drink coolers, mini-refrigerators, or Styrofoam ice chests.
A small light bulb, reptile heating pad, or other heat source is used to maintain proper air temperature. Doing frequent monitoring and adjustments is required to achieve good results.
Incubation Tips and Troubleshooting
Following some basic guidelines can help ensure the best results when incubating Gambel’s quail eggs:
- Start with fresh, clean eggs stored at 55-65°F before incubation
- Disinfect incubator thoroughly before each use
- Ensure proper temperature and humidity levels throughout
- Turn eggs regularly until day 18, then stop turning
- Candle eggs after 1 week to check for viable embryos
- Avoid disturbing incubator too frequently
- Transfer hatched chicks to brooder once dry and fluffed up
Even when following proper procedures, problems can sometimes occur during incubation:
- Lower hatch rates – Can be caused by improper temperature, humidity, egg turning, or nonviable eggs. Review incubation conditions and egg handling procedures.
- Early hatching – Embryos develop faster at higher temperatures. Reduce incubator temperature slightly if hatching more than 2 days early.
- Late hatching – Can occur if temperatures too low. Allow late pips to fully hatch if possible before assisting.
- Stuck chicks – Increase humidity levels. Carefully assist emerging chicks if membrane not fully absorbed.
Careful monitoring and recording incubation conditions can help identify any issues impacting results. Making adjustments to improve consistency in future hatching batches.
Conclusion
Incubating Gambel’s quail eggs requires maintaining proper temperature, humidity, ventilation, and turning regimen. The optimal incubation temperature for these small eggs falls in a narrow range around 99.5-100°F (37.5-37.8°C).
Still air, forced air, and DIY incubators can all be used successfully following incubation best practices. Record keeping and close monitoring are key to achieving the best hatch rates with healthy chicks.