How to Hatch Button Quail Eggs: The Complete Beginner’s Guide

So, you’ve found yourself holding a handful of teeny-tiny button quail eggs… and maybe your heart fluttered a little. Now you’re wondering: what next?

If you’re dreaming of soft peeps and fluffy hatchlings, this guide is for you. Whether you’re a complete beginner or just need a refresher, I’ll walk you through the hatching process step by step.

Here’s my truth: I was born and raised in the concrete heart of Seoul, South Korea—a mega city where “pets” meant cats, dogs… maybe goldfish- not a chicken, not a duck, and definitely not a button quail. I didn’t even know what an egg incubator was and absolutely no clue that baby birds need heat lamps. “Brooder”? “Egg incubator”? Those were fantasy novel words to me.

But love does funny things. Once I fell for these tiny birds, I figured it out. Because when you care deeply for something, the learning comes naturally.

So here it is—my lovingly written, real-life guide to hatching button quail eggs. Soft, simple, and beginner-friendly. Just like the birds themselves.

🥚 Step 1: Prepare Your Incubator Like a Pro

Before your eggs even go in, you need to make sure the incubator is clean, calibrated, and running steadily for at least several hours.

• Temperature: Keep it at a constant 99.5°F (37.5°C).

  Button quail eggs are sensitive—temperature swings can affect hatch rate.

• Humidity: Start at 55–60% for the first 14 days. Too low, and the chicks may stick to the shell. Too high, and they may drown in it.

• Ventilation: Make sure your incubator has a bit of airflow but not so much that it dries things out.

• Egg Turner: A built-in egg turner can help, but hand-turning works just as well!

The button quail eggs were a birthday gift for my son’s 6th birthday. He was so careful and gentle as he placed each tiny egg into the incubator

The incubator automatically sets the temperature to 99.5°F, so the only thing you really need to keep an eye on is the humidity level

🔄 Step 2: Turn the Eggs (But Not Forever)

Eggs need to be turned regularly to prevent the embryo from sticking to the shell membrane—this is absolutely essential for healthy development.

You can turn them by hand, and some people do. But if you’re new to hatching—like I once was—I highly recommend using an incubator with an automatic egg turner. It removes the stress and makes the process smoother, especially when you’re still learning.

Most incubators on the market today come with a built-in turning function that gently rotates the eggs 3 to 5 times a day—just enough to mimic what a mama quail would naturally do.

If you’re doing it manually, make sure to mark each side of the eggs (a simple X and O with a pencil works!) and turn them gently and consistently every few hours. But if that sounds a bit overwhelming, go ahead and let the machine do the work. That way, you can focus on the joy of the journey, not the logistics.

• How often? Turn 3–5 times a day.

• Until when? Stop turning after Day 14—this is called lockdown.

During the turning phase, be as gentle and consistent as possible. Try not to open the incubator—but if you absolutely need to, always wash your hands first, and move slowly. Sudden shifts in temperature or movement can be stressful for the developing chicks.

🔒 Step 3: Lockdown Period (Day 14–Hatch)

By Day 14 of incubation, it’s time to enter a critical phase of the hatching process: Lockdown.

🐣 What Is “Lockdown”?

Lockdown is the final stage before your button quail chicks hatch. From Day 14 until hatch day (usually Day 16–18), you stop turning the eggs completely and avoid opening the incubator unless absolutely necessary.

This is when the chicks are positioning themselves to pip (break the shell) and hatch, and any movement, temperature shift, or drop in humidity can throw off their fragile process.

⏳ Why Is Lockdown Important?

1. Chicks Need Stillness

   At this point, the chick is fully developed and is moving into hatch position. It orients itself with its head toward the air cell in the egg to prepare for pipping. If you continue turning the egg or shake it, it can disorient the chick and make it harder (or impossible) for them to hatch safely.

   
   

2. Humidity Helps Hatch

   Increasing humidity to 60–65% softens the egg membranes and prevents the chick from getting “shrink-wrapped.” Shrink-wrapping happens when the inner membrane dries out and tightens around the chick, making it impossible for them to break through.

   
   

3. Temperature Stability Is Critical

   Even brief drops in temperature during this phase can delay or disrupt hatching. That’s why we don’t open the incubator. Curious as you might be—resist the urge!

🪶 What You Should Do During Lockdown:

• Stop turning the eggs. Completely. The turning tray (if you have one) should be turned off or removed.

• Boost humidity to 60–65%.

• Add water carefully, using a straw or external spout if your incubator allows, to avoid opening the lid.

• Avoid peeking. It’s hard, but essential.

• Let nature take over. At this point, your job is mostly done. Just keep the environment steady and wait for the magic.

Lockdown might feel like the longest 2–3 days ever, but it’s where the real miracle happens. The chicks are doing the hard work now—you just need to keep their world calm, warm, and humid enough to help them make their grand entrance.

🐣 Step 4: Hatching Day (Usually Day 16–18)

This is the moment you’ve been waiting for—hatch day! Most button quail eggs begin hatching on Day 17, although a few might arrive a little early or late depending on temperature and humidity consistency.

It usually begins with a pip—a tiny crack on the shell where the chick starts to break through. After that, the chick may rest for several hours, even up to a full day, before fully hatching. This pause is normal. They’re working hard in there.

Look how tiny he is! He literally broke out of his whole world just to begin a brand new life

🌟 My First Hatch: A Day I’ll Never Forget

I vividly remember my very first button quail hatching day.

It was Day 17, and I started hearing the softest, tiniest peeping sounds from inside the incubator. Then I spotted tiny cracks on a couple of eggs. Around 4 PM, the first chick finally broke through—and I was completely mesmerized. Watching it tap and crack the top of its shell with that miniature beak felt like witnessing a miracle unfold in slow motion.

I couldn’t tear my eyes away.

My husband joked, “They’re not gonna come out if you keep staring at them with those laser-beam eyes,” 😂 but I was glued to that incubator. I ended up pulling my blanket over and sleeping in front of it that night, just in case another chick hatched while I wasn’t looking.

The joy, the awe, the butterflies in my chest—I’ll never forget that feeling. It wasn’t just hatching eggs. It was watching life begin.

If you’re about to go through your first hatch, I hope you get to feel that same magic.

🧼 What to Do When They Hatch:

• Let them dry inside the incubator. Don’t rush to move them! Chicks need a few hours to dry and fluff up in the warm, humid environment.

• Resist the urge to help. If a chick has pipped but hasn’t made progress for 24+ hours, you may assist, but only if you know how. Most chicks just need time.

• Have your brooder ready. Once they’re dry and standing strong, move them gently into a warm brooder set to 95°F, with soft bedding and shallow food/water.

Hatch day is one of the most special moments of the journey. And don’t worry if you’re a little obsessed like I did. 💛

Day 1, and they’re already making me laugh. There’s a reason I say cuteness is the ultimate superpower—it melts your guard like nothing else.

🧼 Step 5: After Hatch Care

Once your button quail chicks have hatched, your job shifts from incubator guardian to cozy brooder caretaker. But don’t rush—the first 24 hours after hatching are still part of the process.

🐣 Let Them Rest and Dry First

After a chick hatches, it will look wet, wobbly, and honestly a little tragic (but still adorable, of course). Leave them inside the incubator for at least a few hours—until they are fully dry, fluffy, and standing strong.

This might be the hardest part—watching them stumble around, peep loudly, and look confused without swooping in to help. But trust me, they’re okay.

💛 They Don’t Need Food or Water Right Away

One thing many first-time hatchers don’t know (and I didn’t either!): newly hatched chicks don’t need food or water for the first 24 hours.

The yolk sac they absorbed before hatching provides all the nutrients and hydration they need in that time. So even if they’re peeping in the incubator and looking a little lost, don’t panic—they’re not hungry yet. They’re just finding their footing in their brand new world.

I remember my first hatch—I felt so bad seeing those tiny babies peeping non-stop. I thought, “Are they hungry? Thirsty? What if they need me?”

But I learned they’re just adjusting. And it’s totally normal. So take a breath—you’re doing great, and so are they.

My son holding a newborn button quail—tiny hands cradling tiny birds. It might just be the cutest thing in the entire world.

💛 Final Thoughts

About hatching button quail eggs

Hatching button quail eggs is a rare kind of joy—a blend of quiet science, tender care, and wide-eyed wonder. The moment you hear that first tiny peep, you’ll know: something incredible just began.

But before you hit Buy Egg Button, take a breath. These tiny lives aren’t a project—they’re a promise. A promise to be patient. To be prepared. To create a safe, warm landing place for something so small and precious.

Do your homework. Set up your brooder. Make sure you’re ready—not just with gear, but with time, care, and intention.

If you are… the magic is waiting for you.

Fertile Button Quail Eggs Here

A miniature birdy in a miniature wagon—tiny on tiny, and totally irresistible.