Turning Quail Eggs: Frequency and Best Practices Guide

Turning quail eggs at least three times daily keeps chicks healthy and strong. You help prevent the embryo from sticking to the shell and support even growth. Hatch rates drop by up to half if you skip this step. See the difference below

Key Takeaways

Start at set and stop at the end of Day 14 (lockdown Days 15–18).
Manual: at least 3×/day, ideally ~5×/day (every 4–5 hours).
Automatic: gentle tilt every 1–2 hours, ~90° total swing.
Angle: ~45° each side; tilt, don’t roll.
Humidity: Days 1–14 50–60% RH; lockdown 65–70% RH.

Turning Quail Eggs: Why and How Often

Why Turning Matters

Turning keeps developing embryos from sticking to shell membranes, helps distribute heat, oxygen, and nutrients evenly, and encourages robust vascular development. The payoff is stronger chicks and better hatch rates. Even in forced-air incubators with uniform airflow, eggs still need movement so they don’t “rest” on one side for too long. For a full overview from set to hatch, see our Quail Egg Incubation- The Ultimate Guide.

How Often to Turn Quail Eggs (Manual vs. Automatic)

Manual: Turn at least 3× per day (morning, midday, evening). The ideal is ~5× per day—about every 4–5 hours.
Automatic: A gentle tilt every 1–2 hours works well.
Consistency beats raw count. Regular, smooth, repeatable turns are better than occasional big swings. Aim for an odd number of total turns in each 24-hour period so the egg doesn’t rest on the same side all night.

First 48 Hours

Local eggs: Start turning immediately at set.
Shipped eggs: Rest 12–24 hours pointed end down before setting. If the air cell looks unstable after set, reduce or avoid turning for the first 24 hours, then resume the normal schedule.

Manual vs. Automatic Turning

Manual Turning Tips

Keep a simple log (L/R) or set phone reminders to avoid missed or double turns.
Tilt, don’t roll. Tilting the tray is safer than rolling individual eggs, which can strain the chalaza (the “strings” that hold the yolk).
Make movements smooth and even. Sudden jolts can disturb the embryo.

Automatic Turners

Automatic turners deliver consistent, gentle tilts—typically every 90–120 minutes with ~90° total swing—reducing handling and helping conditions stay stable. In practice, hatch success is driven more by temperature, humidity, and airflow control than by the specific turning mechanism. If you need a reliable unit, consider the Automatic Egg Incubator 3 Trays for Birds and Quail. Before lockdown, set a neutral rest angle (large end slightly up) and disable turning at the end of Day 14.

Turning Angle and Orientation

Tilt Angle

Aim for ~45° each side of center (about ~90° total swing). Smaller angles don’t redistribute contents well; excessive angles can stress the embryo’s supports.

Egg Position

Set eggs pointed end down so the air cell stays at the large end. This orientation helps the chick position correctly for internal pip later on.

Safe Movements

Use slow, even tilts. Avoid rolling, shaking, or tapping. Turn the whole rack together for consistency across the batch.

Incubating and Hatching Quail Eggs: Temperature & Humidity

Days 1–14 Settings

For Coturnix (Japanese quail), a common target in a forced-air Egg Incubator is 99.5°F / 37.5°C with 50–60% relative humidity (RH). Calibrate your incubator so readings reflect actual internal conditions.

Lockdown Period

Stop turning at the end of Day 14. From Days 15–18 (“lockdown”), keep temperature steady and raise humidity to 65–70% RH. Higher humidity softens membranes, helping chicks pip and zip without getting shrink-wrapped.

Calibration Tips

Incubator sensors can drift. Use an independent thermometer and hygrometer to verify readings and spot-check multiple locations in the incubator to identify hot/cool spots or uneven humidity.

How to Incubate and Hatch Quail Eggs: Timeline

When to Start Turning

At set. There’s no waiting period for standard, locally sourced eggs.

When to Stop (Lockdown)

End of Day 14. Move eggs to lockdown position and do not turn during Days 15–18.

Lockdown Conditions

Stable temperature (same as incubation setpoint)
Higher humidity (65–70% RH)
No turning; limit opening the incubator to retain heat and moisture

Special Cases: Shipped Eggs

Resting Eggs

After transit, rest 12–24 hours pointed end down before setting. This allows the air cell to re-seat and reduces early losses.

Handling Unstable Air Cells

If the air cell appears detached or wobbly, reduce or avoid turning for the first 24 hours after set. Resume with smaller, slower tilts until stable, then return to the standard ±45° routine.

Hatching Quail Eggs: Schedules & Candling

Candling Days

Candle on Day 7 and Day 10. Remove clears and early quitters to minimize contamination and free space for viable embryos. Keep handling brief to avoid heat loss. For step-by-step photos and troubleshooting, see the Step-by-Step Candling Guide.

Manual Turning Schedule (example)

07:30 — Left 45°
12:00 — Right 45°
16:30 — Left 45°
21:30 — Right 45°
00:30 (optional) — Left 45°

From the end of Day 14, stop turning and move to lockdown. For a day-by-day walkthrough of incubation tasks, check the Day-by-Day Incubation Checklist.

Automatic Turning Schedule (example)

Tilt every 90–120 minutes with ~90° total swing
Set a neutral rest angle before lockdown; disable turning at the end of Day 14

Common Mistakes & Fixes

Missed Turns

Problem: Only turning during daytime leaves one side down for too long at night.
Fix: Plan an odd number of daily turns or add a late-evening turn.

Incorrect Angle

Problem: Too little (<30°) doesn’t help; too much (>60°) strains supports.
Fix: Standardize on ~45° each side.

Turning During Lockdown

Problem: Turning after Day 14 can disrupt positioning and humidity control.
Fix: Stop at the end of Day 14 and focus on humidity and stability.

Losing Track

Problem: Inconsistent orientations and missed turns.
Fix: Use L/R labels or a phone reminder. Turn trays in batches for uniformity.

Quick Checklist

Start at set; stop at the end of Day 14 (lockdown Days 15–18)
Manual: ≥3×/day; ideal ~5×/day (every 4–5 h)
Automatic: every 1–2 h gentle tilts; ~90° total swing
Angle: ~45° each side; tilt, don’t roll
Shipped eggs: rest 12–24 h pointed end down; if air cell unstable, go easy first 24 h
Candle Day 7 and Day 10; remove clears/quitters
Lockdown: 65–70% RH, steady temp, minimal opening
Verify readings with independent thermometer and hygrometer