Spalding area family hatch quail eggs bought from Marks and Spencer

A family has hatched five quail chicks using eggs bought from a supermarket.

Liz May, from Gosberton, bought a box of quail eggs from Marks and Spencer which she was able to hatch in an incubator earlier this week.

Coturnix quail are considered to be a gentle bird and are reared for meat and egg production.

Once they are fully matured, the Coturnix chicks will be enjoying life around Liz’s garden.

Unfortunately one of the chicks had to go into the hospital wing as it was born with splayed feet and has recovered thanks to a small leg splint.

Liz said: “We thought it be would interesting to see if the eggs would hatch as we have recently bought an incubator.

“They are going to stay here and will be well cared for as we are going to build them a run in the garden.”

Liz had purchased an incubator prior to the introduction to the lockdown measures earlier this month.

She had opted to used quail eggs as there is a greater chance of fertilisation due to the difficulties in sexing males.

Initially Liz thought that the eggs might not hatch as they were delivered by Ocado in cool bag and by a family mishap ended up in the fridge.

The eggs were placed in the incubator on December 28 and were turned regularly as part of the process before being placed on the tray for hatching.

On Monday, Liz heard a noise coming from the incubator.

She said: “I looked in and saw a chick looking back at me and during the day four more hatched. On Tuesday morning, the fifth chick was there waiting for me.”

Liz managed to create a leg split using a hair band and spent the night way from his friends which has helped the chick to make a full recovery.