➡ Quail Hatch Along🥚

[HuffleClaw]

Well, I didn’t get notifications, but I’m all caught up now. I’m so sorry Kiki

 

[Sara L]

I just got caught up, sorry about the quailie Kiki. Sometimes they don't thrive no matter what you do.

I read somewhere here on BYC that you should not set very large or small eggs. Only "normal" sized eggs for the species you are hatching. But then there's breeders out there specifically breeding for large egg layers so that could be BS. I think the goal is to avoid anomalies that may indicative of a problem and lead to unhealthy birds or a poor hatch rate.
I however squeezed all 103 eggs I received via mail in my incubator. I figured I may weed some out on day 4 candling (tonight actually but may just wait until tomorrow since I set at 11PM). It definitely took some creative moving of the eggs. I kept needing find a normal or slightly smaller egg to stick between two larger eggs. Most of my eggs were large (for the rails at least). I think I have the same rails as you. I have little giant quail rails. I do not have a little giant turner it's some other brand but has the same dimensions from what I could tell.

I think the quail rails are sized for smaller quail eggs, not jumbos. I wish they would make a version slightly bigger, or maybe one for a different bird that has slightly bigger eggs.

You won't break him, honestly the worst possible thing is to leave him with the feet. Just get some painter's tape and create little booties for him.

Painter's tape works well, I've got two in the jumbo brooder now with little booties on.

I had a horrible evening last night. I came home and the waterer in the red pharoah brooder had been leaking all day apparently. All the water was pooled under the heat lamp, so any chick that got wet and tried to warm up under the lamp just had a higher chance of slipping and getting wet again. I lost 7/12, and I'm hoping the remaining 5 make it. I'm so mad at myself for not seeing the waterer was leaking. I sat and watched them for a good 30 minutes last night after I got them cleaned up and warm.

 

[littleprairieheartsfarm]

Was reading through the new posts (this thread suddenly took off again) and saw this. Did you name your rooster Negan? Please tell me you have a Walking Dead flock. That would be awesome!

Our rooster’s name is Negan yes. We also have a Carol. Everyone else lost their TWD names though lol. They just wouldn’t cooperate.

We have our TWD original flock, then spice flock, “storm clouds” flock, and our mixed bag flock.

 

[littleprairieheartsfarm]

I just got caught up, sorry about the quailie Kiki. Sometimes they don't thrive no matter what you do.


I think the quail rails are sized for smaller quail eggs, not jumbos. I wish they would make a version slightly bigger, or maybe one for a different bird that has slightly bigger eggs.


Painter's tape works well, I've got two in the jumbo brooder now with little booties on.

I had a horrible evening last night. I came home and the waterer in the red pharoah brooder had been leaking all day apparently. All the water was pooled under the heat lamp, so any chick that got wet and tried to warm up under the lamp just had a higher chance of slipping and getting wet again. I lost 7/12, and I'm hoping the remaining 5 make it. I'm so mad at myself for not seeing the waterer was leaking. I sat and watched them for a good 30 minutes last night after I got them cleaned up and warm.

I’m so sorry seems like everyone is having a rough time right now

 

[Morrigan]

I had a horrible evening last night. I came home and the waterer in the red pharoah brooder had been leaking all day apparently. All the water was pooled under the heat lamp, so any chick that got wet and tried to warm up under the lamp just had a higher chance of slipping and getting wet again. I lost 7/12, and I'm hoping the remaining 5 make it. I'm so mad at myself for not seeing the waterer was leaking. I sat and watched them for a good 30 minutes last night after I got them cleaned up and warm.

So sorry. Hugs all around today.

 

[HuffleClaw]

I’m going to be hatching my Coturnix Quail eggs either late this month or early February

I found a different resource, so I’ll be able to get them earlier than I would’ve.

I’m going to *purchase* the 50+ quantity, but I’m going to actually set maybe 15 or 18 (yeah, I know, but it’s cheaper this route).

Now for the cages. The cages, that’s what I must accomplish before I’m ready to bring the eggs home.

Plans for cage(s) as of now:
The quailies will most likely either stay in the garage or outside (More than likely the garage). I’m going to fix up a prefab that (IMHO) will be perfect for housing them. By the looks of it it should hold up to 5 (maybe) quail at a time. I know I’m going to set 18 eggs, and I know you’re thinking “if the cage holds 5... what’re you going to do with the extras??” Well, I’m planning to have extra males (and even females) that have already been planned accordingly for. They will go to one of my uncle’s friends whom will keep them for eggs/meat. Later on after I get the swing of things in Quail Landia, I’ll actually build more cages so if I wanted to hatch more to keep, I could.

It’s going to be a process, but I think the hardest part is the waiting!

 

[littleprairieheartsfarm]

I’ve never tasted quail, and since you all mostly raise them for meat, what would you say they taste like?

Is there a difference between the store bought and the home grown like people say for chickens?

 

[WVduckchick]

I don't know which is worse on the emotions. Helping one struggling and it gets outta the shell only to be too weak to survive, and everything you have done has been for naught or opening up the bator to see that it died in the shell because you did nothing. I hate putting any animal down but sometimes you have too.

I feel the same! I'm torn with almost every incubation. I'm getting better at letting nature take its course, but sometimes I just have to help.

I had a horrible evening last night. I came home and the waterer in the red pharoah brooder had been leaking all day apparently. All the water was pooled under the heat lamp, so any chick that got wet and tried to warm up under the lamp just had a higher chance of slipping and getting wet again. I lost 7/12, and I'm hoping the remaining 5 make it. I'm so mad at myself for not seeing the waterer was leaking. I sat and watched them for a good 30 minutes last night after I got them cleaned up and warm.

Ugh. I hope those all make it. As they say, chit happens.

 

[R2elk]

I’m going to *purchase* the 50+ quantity, but I’m going to actually set maybe 15 or 18

You should set them all. There is no way that you can pick out the "good" eggs. By only setting a partial number of the eggs, it is entirely possible that you could choose the worst ones to set and have a miserable hatch while some of the ones you do not choose to set may be the most viable ones.

 

[HuffleClaw]

You should set them all. There is no way that you can pick out the "good" eggs. By only setting a partial number of the eggs, it is entirely possible that you could choose the worst ones to set and have a miserable hatch while some of the ones you do not choose to set may be the most viable ones.

I think I just may do that Thank you!