How to Hatch Quail Eggs in the Classroom

Hatching eggs in a classroom is a popular way of teaching children about the growth of life. Quail eggs are a good choice for this, since they are easy to hatch and unusual without being too difficult to find. Many children, especially in city classrooms, will have never seen a quail before; they may not have seen any baby birds in real life. Hatching eggs can be an exciting and educational experience for kids.

Things You'll Need

  • Fertilized quail eggs
  • Incubator
  • Quail feed
  • Water
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Instructions

    • 1

      Make sure that you have a home for your quail when you no longer intend to keep them in the classroom. Call local farmers to ask if they'd like the birds. Do not plan on simply taking the birds to an animal shelter, as these are often already overcrowded and strained for resources.

    • 2

      Purchase an incubator. This is vital to the quail's growth inside the egg. Incubators come in different price ranges, and have varying levels of success hatching eggs. If funds are a problem, try finding one used online, or call other schools nearby that might have already done a lesson on hatching eggs.

    • 3

      Purchase fertilized quail eggs. Again, this can often be done by calling local farmers, or perhaps visiting a farm supply store. Many people may be willing to donate the eggs since they are being used for educational purposes.

    • 4

      Place the eggs inside the incubator, according to your incubator's instructions.

    • 5

      If necessary, turn your eggs. Some of the more expensive incubators will do this automatically, but otherwise they will have to be rotated by hand twice daily. This includes weekends and school holidays, so ensure that you or someone else can be there during these times.

    • 6

      Your quail eggs will hatch in about 17 days, so make sure this is going to be a school day. It's best to have a cushion of a day or two for variables, so try to have the hatching day fall on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday.

    • 7

      When the quails hatch, give them fresh water (shallow, so they can't drown) and food. Ask your local farm supply store what food is appropriate for quail chicks. If unsure, you can always go with food for turkey chicks. Do not attempt to give them seed intended for pet birds.