Can You Buy Quail Eggs at the Grocery Store? A Guide to Finding and Hatching Them

With their tiny size and beautiful speckled shells, quail eggs have grown increasingly popular. But can you readily buy these petite eggs at your local supermarket? What about hatching ones from the store? This guide covers locating quail eggs in grocery stores and incubating them into chicks.

Availability of Quail Eggs in Grocery Stores

In the past quail eggs were a specialty item found mainly in upscale and ethnic markets. Today their popularity is rising and more mainstream stores now carry them including

• Whole Foods – often both plain and colored varieties

• Sprouts – usually plain white coturnix quail eggs

• Trader Joe’s – seasonal availability

• Natural food co-ops – good source for local quail eggs

• Hispanic/Asian markets – frequently offer good prices on imported eggs

Check the refrigerated dairy case near the chicken eggs. Major chains like Walmart, Safeway, and Kroger don’t normally stock quail eggs. Contact your local store’s specialty foods manager to request them.

Buying Considerations for Grocery Store Quail Eggs

When purchasing quail eggs in grocery stores, keep these tips in mind:

• Examine shells for cracks/flaws – discard any compromised eggs.

• Check for clean, unsoiled shells free of debris.

• Avoid cartons with stuck eggs indicating old, dried contents.

• Refrigerate promptly and use within 5 days for best freshness.

• Expect to pay $3-$6 for a dozen quail eggs depending on your region.

• Peak spring through fall for availability – scarcer in winter.

• Sold as whole eggs only – no separated whites or yolks.

• Rarely labeled with any breed information. Most are standard coturnix.

With some searching, quail eggs can be foraged from grocers if you know where to find them. Next, what about incubating these store-bought eggs?

Hatching Grocery Store Quail Eggs – Is It Possible?

While most quail eggs from supermarkets are intended for consumption, some backyard poultry enthusiasts enjoy experimenting with hatching them. Results vary greatly, but success is possible under certain conditions:

• Freshest eggs under 5 days old yield highest hatch rates.

• Proper storage is essential – any temperature fluctuations decrease viability.

• Expect very low hatch percentages – 1 chick per 30 eggs is typical.

• Patience is required – hatching can take over 3 weeks.

• Not labeled for breeding so genetics and health issues are unknown.

• Almost guaranteed to be coturnix quail based on egg shape.

• Higher risk of disappointed kids – low hatch rates mean more duds.

For best chances, purchase the freshest quail eggs available and incubate immediately. But be prepared for mostly undeveloped eggs.

Incubating Grocery Store Quail Eggs

Follow these tips to maximize your hatch rate from supermarket quail eggs:

• Set eggs in incubator as soon as possible after purchasing – don’t store at home first.

• Discard any eggs with shell abnormalities or stuck debris.

• Sanitize shells prior to setting if visibly soiled.

• Maintain proper incubation temps between 99-102°F.

• Keep humidity lower around 25-35% until lockdown.

• Don’t disturb eggs unnecessarily – minimal candling.

• Expect hatching to occur on day 17-21.

• Transfer hatched chicks to brooder immediately.

• Remove unhatched eggs after 25 days max.

Even if most eggs fail, the thrill of hatching just a few baby quail makes it worthwhile for many hobbyists.

What to Expect with Grocery Store Quail Chicks

For the few chicks that emerge successfully from store-bought eggs, be prepared for the following:

• Higher risk of health issues due to unknown genetics and egg handling.

• No guarantees on sex – expect a hodgepodge of males and females.

• 100% will be standard coturnix quail based on egg shape.

• Chicks may require antibiotics or extra TLC to thrive initially.

• Temperament and laying ability differs from hatchery quail.

• Lower hatch rates but higher sense of reward hatching neglected eggs.

While not ideal for establishing a breeding flock, hatching the occasional grocery store quail egg can be an enjoyable and addicting experiment for avid hobbyists.

Should You Incubate Store Quail Eggs with Hatching Eggs?

When setting grocery store quail eggs, experts recommend incubating them separately from purpose-bred hatching eggs. Reasons include:

• Minimizes disease transmission risk to valuable hatching eggs.

• Reduces chances of humidity and temperature variations affecting hatch.

• Avoids discouraged chicks if many eggs fail to develop.

• Allows for different incubation duration if needed.

• Lets you dispose of duds sooner without disturbing pips.

Think of store eggs as a fun side experiment rather than counting on them to produce an abundance of chicks.

Troubleshooting Issues with Undeveloped Store Eggs

Don’t be surprised if most grocery store quail eggs fail to hatch. Typical problems include:

• Infertile eggs not bred for incubation.

• Embryos died during improper storage/transport.

• Temp or humidity fluctuations during retail display.

• Micro fractures or thin spots make shells prone to damage.

• Age/freshness reduces viability – best under 5 days old.

• Nutritional deficiencies from commercial feed and lighting.

With some trial and error, you may discover certain brands or stores offering better hatching success.

Is It Worth the Time and Expense?

Incubating grocery store quail eggs takes considerable time and care for low yields. Yet many enthusiasts consider it rewarding. Assess whether it suits your interests:

Pros

• Allows incubating without owning breeders.

• Provides fun learning experience at low cost.

• Chance of success for neglected eggs discarded by stores.

• Opportunity to rescue and hatch abandoned eggs.

Cons

• Very low hatch percentage wastes time and electricity.

• Risk of transmitting diseases and genetic issues.

• Disappointment when most eggs are duds.

• Need to cull weak chicks unlikely to thrive.

Overall the choice depends on your incubation goals and tolerance for uncertainty. For a fun gamble with low stakes, it may be worth trying!

Maximizing Enjoyment of the Experience

To make the most of grocery store quail egg incubating:

• Adjust expectations for a very minimal hatch rate.

• Involve the kids and make it an educational project.

• Focus on the excitement when you do hatch a chick or two.

• Appreciate the rescuer satisfaction of giving abandoned eggs a chance.

• Use successes to spark interest in incubating purpose-bred hatching eggs.

More than the outcome, enjoy the entertaining process and lessons learned from store-bought quail eggs.

The Bottom Line

Quail eggs are gaining mainstream popularity, and some grocery retailers now carry them. With careful selection and ideal storage, hatching a small percentage of store-bought quail eggs is possible. Though many will fail, the challenge can provide unique hands-on learning. Manage expectations, isolate store eggs, and leverage successes to fuel further incubation adventures. For casual hobbyists, it can be a rewarding experiment!