➡ Quail Hatch Along🥚

[CoturnixComplex]

I haven't seen this problem with my quail, even when raising them commercially.
Pheasants seem more prone to this happening. Currently (last year)I have a Yellow Golden hen that's been doing this, half way through last season she quit laying too, hasn't layed an egg so far this season.

Really! Now I'm intrigued, I thought it must be more common than that.

They're all doing great, reliable (ish) layers and never laid a soft shell egg between them or had binding issues. I wonder what I'm doing that's causing it though.

 

[CoturnixComplex]

I feel like four birds from four different bloodlines doing it must mean it's some environmental aspect.

 

[007Sean]

Really! Now I'm intrigued, I thought it must be more common than that.

They're all doing great, reliable (ish) layers and never laid a soft shell egg between them or had binding issues. I wonder what I'm doing that's causing it though.

Nothing, it could be genetics, nutrition, stress, amount of light (natural or artifical) to name but a few. Doesn't seem to be enough interest in the subject for serious researchers to conduct a study on the issue in depth.

 

[CindyinSD]

Press and hold the enter button, then you can toghle through the options.
I used two digital thermometers when I first ran it. All readings were within 2degrees of each other, so I didn't worry over it. A little lower temp won't hurt, just not higher.

I did try that with the days. (Blush) I don’t know why, but I expected it to say the number of days it was set for, not the number of days remaining. I’d been just skipping past that one on my way to “calibrate thermometer.” So yes, Thanks! It is now set on 21 days again. I feel dum.

So... I guess I’ll go with the Little Giant thermometer since using the on-deck thermostat would make it 1.8 degrees warmer...

Heres a link to the manual. Should have instructions for resetting temp, timer, and calibrating to room temp.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4quAqN5CMUHX1lJY0ZkU20tWjQ/view?usp=sharing

Thanks, Sean! Great to have that link!

I like it, it stays pretty steady and I get great hatch rates out of it.
View attachment 1722505
Current reading

So did you just go with the incubator’s pre-set temp, Jen? I did adjust mine a bit more, but I switched to Celsius first. The numbers just seem easier, less confusing for some reason... don’t ask LOL. I honestly don’t know why I feel that way.

 

[ketojenn]

I did try that with the days. (Blush) I don’t know why, but I expected it to say the number of days it was set for, not the number of days remaining. I’d been just skipping past that one on my way to “calibrate thermometer.” So yes, Thanks! It is now set on 21 days again. I feel dum.

So... I guess I’ll go with the Little Giant thermometer since using the on-deck thermostat would make it 1.8 degrees warmer...



Thanks, Sean! Great to have that link!



So did you just go with the incubator’s pre-set temp, Jen? I did adjust mine a bit more, but I switched to Celsius first. The numbers just seem easier, less confusing for some reason... don’t ask LOL. I honestly don’t know why I feel that way.

Yes, all thermometers were close, so I felt no need to adjust. I do have it in a very temp stable room. It's about 70° in there all year round.

 

[007Sean]

Yes, all thermometers were close, so I felt no need to adjust. I do have it in a very temp stable room. It's about 70° in there all year round.

Stable room temp is 'key' when hatching in a foam bator.

 

[CindyinSD]

Stable room temp is 'key' when hatching in a foam bator.

This incubator is just a sturdy plastic, so that no doubt goes triple. Easier to clean, though. Our room temp stays around 68-70. The incubator is at 99.6F atm (I think). Unfortunately the USPS seems to be having some difficulty getting my eggs here. How big a surprise is that??

 

[Kiki]

This incubator is just a sturdy plastic, so that no doubt goes triple. Easier to clean, though. Our room temp stays around 68-70. The incubator is at 99.6F atm (I think). Unfortunately the USPS seems to be having some difficulty getting my eggs here. How big a surprise is that??

 

[muddy75]

just completed day 9/10 candling of quail...6 clears (tossed 4 of them). 2 iffy (dark/small eggs) 22 with good movement!! since my bator is not overflowing with eggs this time I have been rearranging them to different areas of the incubator after candling. first round of eggs go into lockdown saturday!! candled some of the silkieX eggs for HAL but only on day 2 so couldn’t see much going on yet. will make a decision on how many staying on day 4 when I am due to set quail eggs. I had a bit of a scare sunday night with the auction.....I miscalculated max on the grau fee batch and maxed it out!! luckily zack didn’t catch it before the other guy that had already won most of them fore the day bid 2$ more!! Hubby probably would have divorced me if I had won and had 60 more eggs on the way!! Unless I just happen to get a small grau fee batch, I’m going to give the incubators a rest for a couple months.

 

[CayugaJana]

Stable room temp is 'key' when hatching in a foam bator.

I agree. My hovabator seems like it puts out a certain amount of heat per whatever you set it as. As opposed to staying at a certain temperature. If I adjust our house thermostat, the hovabator temp moves as well. My Little Giant styrofoam doesn’t though. It does good a keeping a constant temperature.