Quail Hatch Date Calculator
Quail hatch, lockdown, and candle dates from set date.
What it does
Quail hatch fast at eighteen days. Set dates plus fixed offsets mark candling, lockdown, and hatch day.
The tool above adds the offsets. October 14 sets hatch November 1 with lockdown October 29 and candling October 24. Dates compute in UTC so time zones never shift a day.
Candling day ten clears duds. Bright clears and blood rings leave, keeping air clean for growers.
Lockdown day fifteen stops turning. Humidity rises while chicks position for pipping.
Hatch spans days. Pips day seventeen with stragglers to twenty, and brooders warm before the first peeps.
How to use
- Enter set date: 2026-10-14 suits the default.
- Read hatch date first.
- Read lockdown next.
- Read candle day and mark the calendar.
Formula
- set date
- Date eggs enter the incubator.
Coturnix quail average 17 to 18 days. Dates compute in UTC to dodge daylight saving shifts.
Worked example
Example: set Oct 14 2026
Defaults: eggs set 2026-10-14. These are also the default values, so the page opens on this answer.
- Set: Wed Oct 14 2026.
- Hatch: plus 18 days is Sun Nov 01 2026.
- Lockdown: plus 15 days is Thu Oct 29 2026.
- Candle: plus 10 days is Sat Oct 24 2026.
- Tool shows Sun Nov 01 2026, Thu Oct 29 2026 lockdown, Sat Oct 24 2026 candle.
Reference table
| Set | Lockdown | Hatch |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 14 2026 | Thu Oct 29 2026 | Sun Nov 01 2026 |
| Jan 01 2026 | Fri Jan 16 2026 | Mon Jan 19 2026 |
Limits
- Average timing only. Lines vary.
- Late hatches reach day 20.
- Fertility sets rates, not dates.
- Power cuts shift hatches.
Common mistakes
- Opening during lockdown often.
- No humidity bump at lockdown.
- Skipping day 10 candling.
- Helping pips too soon.
- Cold brooders at hatch.
Try it yourself
Quick checks. Answers sit tucked under each question.
Set 2026-01-01?
Hatch is Jan 01 plus 18, so Mon Jan 19 2026. Lockdown is Jan 16.
Set 2026-03-01?
Hatch is Mar 01 plus 18, so Thu Mar 19 2026.
Questions
Hatch date?
Add 18 days to set date. Here Oct 14 plus 18 is Sun Nov 01 2026.
Lockdown day?
Stop turning day 15 for hatch positioning. Here Thu Oct 29 2026.
Candle day?
Candle day 10 for clears and quitters. Here Sat Oct 24 2026.
Incubator settings?
Near 99.5 F forced air with 45 to 55 % humidity, up at lockdown.
Hatch late?
Yes. Late hatches run to day 19 or 20.
Guaranteed hatch?
No. Fertility and handling decide hatch rates.