- Quail eggs need small-egg inserts, rails or trays; a chicken-only tray lets them tip or fall through.
- Borotto Lumia 56 lists the highest small-egg count here (224); Brinsea Maxi 24 EX and Maxi 48 EX list 40 and 68 small eggs with automatic humidity.
- Coturnix quail hatch in about 17 days and stop turning on day 15 (MSU), so the lockdown comes sooner than with chickens.
- Brinsea gives 40–50% humidity for quail, then 65% or more for hatching. Check with your own hygrometer.
The best quail incubator holds small eggs securely, turns them on a short schedule, and lets you lock down two days earlier than a chicken hatch. Quail eggs are small enough to roll between chicken cups and light enough to tip in a careless tray, so the insert or rail matters as much as the incubator.
This list compares eight incubators from seven brands using listed small-egg capacity and features, plus the add-on quail trays and rails each maker sells. Settings come from Mississippi State University Extension and Brinsea, and your incubator's manual always comes first.
Our picks
Brinsea Maxi 24 EX Incubator, Auto Humidity
- Egg capacity
- 24 chicken, 12 large, 8 jumbo or 40 small eggs
- Turning
- Automatic
- Humidity
- Automatic
- Fan
- Forced-air (fan-assisted)
Brinsea lists the Maxi 24 EX for 40 small eggs with four size-specific quadrant inserts in the box, so quail and chicken eggs can share a batch. Automatic humidity, a %RH readout, fan-assisted air and high/low alarms reduce the daily checks quail hatches need.
Best for: Regular coturnix hatches of up to about three dozen
Skip if: You want to set more than 40 quail eggs at once
- 40 small eggs with included inserts
- Automatic humidity
- Turning status on screen
- Mixed batches need separate lockdown timing
- More settings to learn
Brinsea Maxi 48 EX Incubator, Auto Humidity
- Egg capacity
- 48 chicken, 24 large, 16 jumbo or 68 small eggs
- Turning
- Automatic
- Humidity
- Automatic
- Fan
- Forced-air (fan-assisted)
The Maxi 48 EX doubles the tray: Brinsea lists 48 chicken, 24 large, 16 jumbo or 68 small eggs, with automatic turning, automatic humidity, a %RH display and high/low alarms.
Best for: Quail keepers hatching for meat or eggs in bigger batches
Skip if: You only hatch a dozen eggs a season
- 68 small eggs
- Automatic humidity
- Four quadrant inserts
- Big footprint for a small hatch
- Check carrier fit for bobwhite versus coturnix
Borotto Lumia 56 Egg Incubator (Incubator Only)
- Egg capacity
- 56 large eggs or 224 small (quail, partridge)
- Turning
- Automatic, left-right, hourly cycle
- Humidity
- Manual water trays; optional humidity pump sold separately
- Display
- Automatic temperature control
Borotto lists the Lumia 56 for 224 small eggs such as quail or partridge on a universal upright tray, with hourly left-right turning and automatic temperature control. Humidity comes from built-in water trays or an optional pump fed from an external bottle.
Best for: High-volume coturnix hatches
Skip if: You need a humidity readout and auto refill included
- 224 small eggs
- Universal upright tray
- Optional humidity pump
- Pump sold separately
- Alarm details not listed
Little Giant 9300 Digital Still Air Incubator
- Egg capacity
- 41 large chicken or 120 bantam/quail (with turner)
- Turning
- Turner sold separately
- Humidity
- Built-in digital hygrometer
- Fan
- Still-air
Miller's Little Giant 9300 lists up to 120 bantam or quail eggs when used with its automatic turner and quail rails (sold separately), a digital control board and a built-in digital hygrometer. It is still air, so temperature is set higher and measured at egg-top height.
Best for: Budget-minded keepers comfortable with still-air settings
Skip if: You want forced air and even heat without a fan kit
- 120 quail with turner and rails
- Built-in digital hygrometer
- Made in the USA per Miller
- Still air needs careful thermometer placement
- Turner and rails cost extra
GQF 1588 Genesis Hova-Bator Incubator
- Turning
- Turner sold separately
- Fan
- Forced-air (circulated air)
- Display
- Digital temperature, humidity and incubation days
- Temperature
- Adjustable from 80°F; default 100°F
The GQF 1588 Genesis Hova-Bator lists circulated air and a digital display of temperature, humidity and incubation days, adjustable from 80°F with a 100°F default. Its matching GQF automatic turner comes with quail racks for 120 quail eggs.
Best for: Keepers who want a well-known cabinet and plan to add the turner
Skip if: You want everything in one box; the turner is sold separately here
- Circulated air
- Digital humidity display
- GQF turner includes quail racks
- Turner sold separately
- Manual humidity
Nurture Right 360 Incubator, 22 Eggs, Auto Turner
- Egg capacity
- 22 chicken, 12–18 duck or 22–24 pheasant eggs
- Turning
- Automatic with auto-stop
- Humidity
- Display and control knob
- Fan
- Forced-air (360° induced airflow)
The Nurture Right 360 lists 22 chicken eggs, forced air, auto turning with auto-stop and a humidity display. For quail, Incubator Warehouse sells a 48-egg quail tray made to fit it, which turns a chicken incubator into a small quail unit.
Best for: Families who hatch chickens most of the time and quail sometimes
Skip if: Quail are your main bird; a unit built around small eggs holds more
- Auto-stop turning
- 48-egg quail tray available
- Humidity shown on display
- Quail tray is an extra purchase
- Manual humidity
Onya 26 Pro Egg Incubator with LED Candler
- Egg capacity
- 26 chicken or 59 quail eggs
- Turning
- Automatic
- Humidity
- 500 mL auto-refill reservoir
- Display
- Temperature and humidity alerts; LED candler
Onya lists the 26 Pro with dual trays for 26 chicken or 59 quail eggs, a quail preset among five species programs, a 500 mL auto-refill reservoir, temperature and humidity alerts and a built-in candler.
Best for: A first quail hatch on a budget
Skip if: You want independent accuracy data; check its sensors yourself
- Quail tray and preset
- Auto-refill water
- Built-in candler
- Fan type not stated
- Smaller brand with less documentation
ZEMIRO CHARGE Serie II 30-Egg Incubator
- Egg capacity
- 30 chicken or 60 quail eggs
- Turning
- Automatic every 2 hours
- Humidity
- Manual water fill (~20–85% RH)
- Display
- Temperature and humidity display; LED candler
ZEMIRO lists the CHARGE Serie II for 30 chicken or 60 quail eggs, automatic turning every 2 hours, a temperature range of 68–104°F, a humidity range of about 20–85% depending on the water you add, a temperature and humidity display and a built-in LED candler. The maker recommends a room at 64–86°F.
Best for: Experienced hatchers who like to manage water by hand
Skip if: You want auto-stop turning; the listing does not mention it
- 60 quail eggs
- Clear room-condition guidance
- Built-in candler
- Manual humidity only
- No auto-stop listed
Quail incubators compared by small-egg capacity
Listed quail or small-egg capacity
As stated by each maker; Little Giant and GQF figures need the turner and quail rails or racks
| Product | Egg capacity | Turning | Humidity | Fan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brinsea Maxi 24 EX Incubator, Auto Humidity | 24 chicken, 12 large, 8 jumbo or 40 small eggs | Automatic | Automatic | Forced-air (fan-assisted) |
| Brinsea Maxi 48 EX Incubator, Auto Humidity | 48 chicken, 24 large, 16 jumbo or 68 small eggs | Automatic | Automatic | Forced-air (fan-assisted) |
| Borotto Lumia 56 Egg Incubator (Incubator Only) | 56 large eggs or 224 small (quail, partridge) | Automatic, left-right, hourly cycle | Manual water trays; optional humidity pump sold separately | — |
| Little Giant 9300 Digital Still Air Incubator | 41 large chicken or 120 bantam/quail (with turner) | Turner sold separately | Built-in digital hygrometer | Still-air |
| GQF 1588 Genesis Hova-Bator Incubator | — | Turner sold separately | — | Forced-air (circulated air) |
| Nurture Right 360 Incubator, 22 Eggs, Auto Turner | 22 chicken, 12–18 duck or 22–24 pheasant eggs | Automatic with auto-stop | Display and control knob | Forced-air (360° induced airflow) |
| Onya 26 Pro Egg Incubator with LED Candler | 26 chicken or 59 quail eggs | Automatic | 500 mL auto-refill reservoir | — |
| ZEMIRO CHARGE Serie II 30-Egg Incubator | 30 chicken or 60 quail eggs | Automatic every 2 hours | Manual water fill (~20–85% RH) | — |
Specs as listed by the maker or seller; check the listing before you buy.
Quail trays, rails and racks
If you already own a foam cabinet or a Nurture Right 360, a quail insert is the cheapest way in. Each one is made for a specific turner or incubator, so match the model number before you buy.
Incubator Warehouse Quail Tray for Nurture Right 360
- Capacity
- 48 quail or small bird eggs
- Fits
- Nurture Right 360
- Size
- 12.3 x 12.3 x 0.7 in
Best for Quail in a Nurture Right 360
Hova-Bator GQF Automatic Egg Turner
- Capacity
- 41 eggs (6 universal racks); 120 quail with quail racks
- Fits
- All HovaBator incubators
- Includes
- Quail egg racks
Best for Automating a HovaBator
Little Giant 6302 Quail Rails, 120 Eggs
- Capacity
- 20 small eggs per rail, 120 total
- Fits
- Little Giant 6300 automatic turner
- Cleaning
- Dishwasher safe
Best for Quail hatches in a Little Giant
Farm Innovators Quail Rails for 3200 Turner, 6-Pack
- Capacity
- 20 small eggs per rail, 120 total
- Fits
- Model 3200 turner in 2100/2200 incubators
- Cleaning
- Dishwasher safe
Best for Quail hatches in a Farm Innovators setup
- Incubator Warehouse quail tray: 48 quail or small bird eggs, made for the Nurture Right 360.
- GQF automatic turner: six universal racks for 41 eggs plus quail racks for 120, for all HovaBator incubators.
- Little Giant 6302 quail rails: 20 small eggs per rail, 120 total, for the 6300 turner.
- Farm Innovators quail rails: 20 per rail, 120 total, for the 3200 turner in 2100/2200 incubators.
What temperature and humidity do quail eggs need?
MSU Extension lists coturnix quail at 17 days, about 100°F in forced air, a wet-bulb of 85–86°F, stop turning on day 15 and open vents more from day 14. Bobwhite take 23–24 days and stop turning on day 20. Brinsea gives quail 40–50% relative humidity, rising to 65% or more for the hatch.
Incubation by species: forced-air settings, with the still-air offset
| Species | Days to hatch | Forced-air temp | Still-air temp | Wet-bulb, days 1 to lockdown → last 3 days | Relative humidity | Stop turning (day) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 21 | 100°F (37.8°C) | 102–103°F | 85–87°F → 90°F | 45–50% → 65% or more | 18 |
| Duck (most breeds) | 28 | 100°F (37.8°C) | 102–103°F | 85–86°F → 90°F | 55–60% → 70% or more | 25 |
| Muscovy duck | 35–37 | 100°F (37.8°C) | 102–103°F | 85–86°F → 90°F | 58–60% → 65% or more | 31 |
| Coturnix quail | 17 | 100°F (37.8°C) | 102–103°F | 85–86°F → 90°F | 40–50% → 65% or more | 15 |
| Bobwhite quail | 23–24 | 100°F (37.8°C) | 102–103°F | 84–87°F → 90°F | 40–50% → 65% or more | 20 |
| Turkey | 28 | 99°F (37.2°C) | 101–102°F | 84–86°F → 90°F | 58–60% → 65% or more | 25 |
| Goose | 28–34 | 99°F (37.2°C) | 101–102°F | 86–88°F → 90°F | 58–60% → 65% or more | 25 |
| Guinea fowl | 28 | 100°F (37.8°C) | 102–103°F | 85–87°F → 90°F | 58–60% → 65% or more | 25 |
| Pheasant | 23–28 | 100°F (37.8°C) | 102–103°F | 86–88°F → 92°F | 58–60% → 65% or more | 21 |
| Peafowl | 28–30 | 99°F (37.2°C) | 101–102°F | 84–86°F → 90°F | 58–60% → 65% or more | 25 |
| Chukar partridge | 23–24 | 100°F (37.8°C) | 102–103°F | 81–83°F → 90°F | 58–60% → 65% or more | 20 |
Days, temperatures, wet-bulb and stop-turning days: Mississippi State University Extension, Important Incubation Factors. Still-air: add 2–3°F, measured at the top of the eggs (MSU). Relative humidity: Brinsea, Humidity during incubation for chickens, ducks and quail; other species show MSU's general 58–60%. Follow your incubator's manual first.
The incubation calculator has coturnix and bobwhite settings, so you get the right candling and lockdown dates instead of chicken ones.
How to pick a quail incubator
- Decide your batch size
Coturnix lay young and often, so batches can grow fast. Pick a capacity that matches your brooder space, not your egg supply.
- Check the small-egg holder
Look for an included small-egg insert or a maker-made quail tray or rail. Universal roller trays need their spacing set narrow enough for quail.
- Plan the earlier lockdown
Coturnix stop turning on day 15 (MSU). If your turner does not stop on its own, set a phone reminder or use the calculator's calendar file.
- Measure humidity yourself
Place a thermo-hygrometer at egg height and compare it with the display during a 24-hour empty test run.
- Ready a quail-safe brooder
Quail chicks are tiny. Use narrow-channel or no-drown waterer bases and a heat plate set low.
Quail hatching mistakes to avoid
- Using chicken settings. Quail lock down two days earlier; chicken timing means turning eggs while chicks are getting into position.
- Loose eggs on a chicken tray. Eggs that roll or tip can crack or develop unevenly. Use the right insert.
- Open water at hatch. Cover reservoirs; quail chicks are small enough to drown in them.
- Dark speckled shells and a weak candler. Quail shells are heavily mottled. A high-intensity candler such as the Brinsea OvaView High Intensity is made for dark or mottled shells.
- Overcrowding the brooder. A 120-egg hatch needs brooder space and heat for every chick that hatches.
Before you start, read raising quail for housing and feed basics, and keep a record in the hatch log.
Which quail incubator fits you?
Quick match
| If you... | Look at |
|---|---|
| Want automatic humidity and mixed egg sizes | Brinsea Maxi 24 EX or Maxi 48 EX |
| Hatch quail by the hundred | Borotto Lumia 56 |
| Already own a HovaBator or Little Giant | Add the maker's turner and quail rails or racks |
| Mostly hatch chickens | Nurture Right 360 plus the 48-egg quail tray |
| Want a low-cost quail preset | Onya 26 Pro or ZEMIRO Serie II |
See all incubators in best egg incubators, browse incubation and hatching gear, or shop by situation in ducks, quail and turkeys.
For regular coturnix hatches, the Brinsea Maxi 24 EX (40 small eggs) or Maxi 48 EX (68) handle humidity for you and include small-egg inserts. For large batches the Borotto Lumia 56 lists 224 small eggs. Already own a foam cabinet or a Nurture Right 360? Add the matching quail rails, racks or tray instead of buying a new incubator. Lock down on day 15 for coturnix.
We compared listed small-egg capacity, how each incubator holds quail eggs (included insert, optional tray, rails or racks), turning schedule and stop, humidity method and displays. Settings come from Mississippi State University Extension's species table and Brinsea's humidity guidance; the quail drowning warning is from a Brinsea manual. We did not hatch quail in these incubators and make no hatch-rate claims.