➡ Quail Hatch Along🥚

[007Sean]

Good to know! I have always heard even refrigeration for more than a few hours will affect rates. I did get a couple of live healthy chicks even from my fully frozen batch, just *also* the worst deformities I've had.

The fact that any of the embryos hatch, tells me the eggs were not frozen solid....if they would have been, then none would have hatched.
If the egg becomes frozen solid, the embryoitc cells are destroyed, ruptured, thus unable to develop.

 

[CoturnixComplex]

The fact that any of the embryos hatch, tells me the eggs were not frozen solid....if they would have been, then none would have hatched.
If the egg becomes frozen solid, the embryoitc cells are destroyed, ruptured, thus unable to develop.

I do think they hovered just above it. I should say: the night they got left out overnight at 15 degrees, and who knows how cold the actual eggs got, although they were extremely chilly to the touch when I brought them in.

 

[CoturnixComplex]

Speaking of chilly, I just took the heat lamp off my fully feathered almost-3-week-olds, and I have never seen a more pitiful batch of critters in my life . It's 68 degrees in here. Little weenies.

 

[R2elk]

The fact that any of the embryos hatch, tells me the eggs were not frozen solid....if they would have been, then none would have hatched.
If the egg becomes frozen solid, the embryoitc cells are destroyed, ruptured, thus unable to develop.

The research that I have done indicates that 27°F is the killer temperature. Of course since eggs are not pure water they should not freeze right at 32°F like water does.

 

[igorsMistress]

You do know that a few days of refrigeration will not stop the eggs from being able to hatch, don't you? It isn't the preferred method for storing hatching eggs but it does not kill them.

Yes, but I'm getting these new eggs because I suspect inbreeding from the parent stock at some point. I want to add give the females a new male or the male some new girls. Not sure which or maybe both.

 

[CoturnixComplex]

Yes, but I'm getting these new eggs because I suspect inbreeding from the parent stock at some point. I want to add give the females a new male or the male some new girls. Not sure which or maybe both.

Yes, I basically guarantee they are inbred.

*Most* birds in the states came from just a few batches imported by JMF. All celadon layers in the U.S. have been bred from a single hen, for instance.

I have attempted to get birds from as far-flung sources as possible all across the country to try and get as much genetic diversity as possible (hoping some has been regained in the years since they split from the same flocks), and kept careful track of their minimum or maximum potential relation to each other when setting up breeding pairs.

It does not eliminate the problems, but it is basically a requirement if you're going for multiple generations with them :/

 

[CoturnixComplex]

Also, I should note that having more genetic diversity lets you linebreed to certain birds you like more heavily without repercussion, which is kind of essential if you're trying to fix certain traits in a line. I own multiple birds that the majority of my flock might be related to at some point down the road - but their remaining genetic makeup should stay super diverse, limiting the chance that unwanted recessives are going to pop up.

So: more eggs! Always!

 

[CoturnixComplex]

Off topic: you guys have to help me. My 6x8x6 greenhouse is now supposed to hold two 6' racks of quail cages, a 4x4 bunny hutch, my 300 gallon ibc aquaponics tote, my 8' long divided fish tank, and somehow all my plants through the winter.

These all seem absolutely essential to me.

 

[igorsMistress]

Yes, I basically guarantee they are inbred.

*Most* birds in the states came from just a few batches imported by JMF. All celadon layers in the U.S. have been bred from a single hen, for instance.

I have attempted to get birds from as far-flung sources as possible all across the country to try and get as much genetic diversity as possible (hoping some has been regained in the years since they split from the same flocks), and kept careful track of their minimum or maximum potential relation to each other when setting up breeding pairs.

It does not eliminate the problems, but it is basically a requirement if you're going for multiple generations with them :/

I have a mixed color covey at the moment. The male is wild type so I'm hoping if I keep him and get rid of the existing females except the golden and one white one then I should be in good shape. I've seen him doing his job. The second option is to harvest all but the biggest girls from this hatch and get more eggs in the fall to grow out a male next winter. I'm still thinking out my plan and putting it on paper.

 

[CoturnixComplex]

I have a mixed color covey at the moment. The male is wild type so I'm hoping if I keep him and get rid of the existing females except the golden and one white one then I should be in good shape. I've seen him doing his job. The second option is to harvest all but the biggest girls from this hatch and get more eggs in the fall to grow out a male next winter. I'm still thinking out my plan and putting it on paper.

Seems like a good plan! I like having a pharoah male around, easy to plan to replace every other year and to evaluate your hens, and no reason not to use him for gen1, evaluate what you get and plan to get new males for gen2.