I’m so happy. I broke down and candled the quail eggs even though they are only three days in the incubator and I was pretty sure I wouldn’t be able to see anything.
But I did! I chose the plain, unspotted egg for candling, and the “spider leg” pattern of veins was clearly visible! I was so hoping that egg in particular would be fertile and undamaged by the shipping, and it is.
If you don’t know what I mean by spider leg veining, watch this short video I found on youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TVSgApaqAA
I now feel confident enough to recommend this seller, if you want fertile hatching eggs. There were much better wrapped, and came faster, than the eggs I ordered from Stromberg’s last year.
I’m also happy because I mentioned to Mom that eventually we should have an Eco Glow Brooder for the hatchlings, and to my surprise she decided to purchase one for this this batch of babies.
It’s pretty snazzy. Much safer and cost-efficient than a heat lamp, and it mimics the soothing effect of having a warm mother over the babies, which can only be good for them.
Out of Eden 
I just found your blog while looking for info on quails. We are awaiting our eggs to arrive in a few weeks. I have searched the internet for some type of quail coop that didn’t look like a wire cage, it was getting to be kind of depressing to see. Then I saw your coop (that had the squash growing on it). That is definitely the style I like. I was told to have a cage no higher than 12 inches, I’m wondering how tall yours is, and if you’ve had any problems.
The roof garden coop is about 4 foot tall (the roof is at a slant so it varies a bit). I was thinking I might have to put something on the inside roof if the quail began to fly up, but I’ve had them nearly a year now, and they never have. When they are startled or afraid, their instinct is to duck down to the ground and freeze, not fly. This kind of surprised me after all the warnings I read, and I don’t know if it’s due to the fact that mine are kinda tame, or if the whole “quail fly up and boink themselves” thing is overblown. I just know I haven’t seen it in mine, and none of them have ever injured themselves. If you did have a problem with yours, I think it would be easy enough to put a layer of styrofoam or netting on the inside of the coop to give them some protective padding. My other coop (and the one I’m currently building) are only about two foot, because that’s really all the quail need, and it requires less materials and time to build. I can lift the top completely open on the two foot coop, and they don’t attempt to fly out. They are happy little creatures; when I scatter some canary seed in their cage, they do a little dance of joy before they start eating! It’s super cute. Yesterday I noticed they’ve been digging little holes in the dirt floor – either looking for insects or dirt bathing, I think. This natural style of cage really suits them.
Oh, and I’ve been looking at your blog – what a gorgeous garden you have! It’s nice to “meet” someone else in WA who likes gardening, chickens, and now quail! 🙂
Thanks! I used to be really good about blogging but sort of slacked off lately. Maybe once it dries out a bit. I’m always glad to “meet” other local gardeners too. It’s fun seeing what you grow there!
I was thinking taller would be good for their coop as far as cleaning, etc. I love hoe you used the cinder blocks and hardware cloth on the bottom! Once we get going I’ll post on my blog and you can see what we end up doing. Good luck with your newest eggs!
I look forward to reading about your quail adventures! And if you have any more questions about quail, etc, do ask. I’m happy to help if I can!
That’s the same brooder we plan to get! And a Brinsea incubator. Probably the Octagon Advance. Love that the brooder isn’t a fire hazard and promotes more natural heating.
I also really like your joint coop/run style. It kind of looks like you have a sliding panel in some photos to easily let them out into the connected run during the day and pen them back into the coop at night?
I love my brooder, but I would warn you to have a light on all the time. I don’t know if you saw this post, but I almost lost all my babies because they wandered out from under it in the middle of the night, and couldn’t find their way back. https://liselfwench.wordpress.com/2014/03/21/almost-a-tragedy-and-a-warning/
I don’t have a sliding panel…I just let them be wherever they want, night or day. They usually want to sleep outside. The only time I block them inside the coop is when they are young, just adjusting to being outside.