26 Button Eggs in the Hatcher....Update w/ pics PG 10...

[LilRalphieRoosmama]

Well, I'm not sure. Some are sold (pre-orders) and I guess I'll just add to my flock! I couldn't help myself - they were on an egg-laying roll and I just had to put them in! Got a bunch of jumbo coturnix in there too. FULL BATOR!

 

[TerriLaChicks]

Best of luck to you!!! I'm trying to ignore the possibility of button quail--the cuteness factor is just really strong..

 

[UrbanMama]

Quote:
That's hard to do... the possibilities are endless!

Seriously, they are so beautiful and fun to watch.

I'm trying not to hope for much out of this hatch. One of the boxes came with several smoothed....they were well tossed by the PO.

The other package had 10 and they all arrived perfectly!

Now to those who have hatched buttons before...do they usually arrive right on day 16? Or are they like chickens and start a couple of days before and trickle in over a couple of days? I can't seem to get my darned humidity up over 63%!!

Lil Ralphie Roos Mama...I'd love to see your bator! Full of itty bitty eggs...too cute!

 

[shelleyd2008]

With my last hatch, it seemed that the majority of them hatched within a 24 hour period. I believe it was day 16 (I got lucky that time). There were a couple that hatched the next day, then 1 that hatched on day 18, but most were out around the same time.

One thing I just remembered, quail are not like chicks. With chicks, you can check the egg shells for zips? Quail liike to close up when they leave, so you will think you have a zip, and it's not

It is best to count babies with quail. I 'think' I have a zip on my jumbos, but I'm not sure!

 

[UrbanMama]

Oh man...today's only day 14...it's going to be a looooooong wait!

I'll just have to wait your jumbo hatching thread and live vicariously through you for a couple of days!

 

[BirdBoy88]

Can't wait to see some babies pics

every time i hatch buttons they always hatch on day 17 through 18

 

[the1much]

 

[LilRalphieRoosmama]

Mine usually hatch on day 16 or 17. If today's day 14, don't turn them anymore (but you probably already knew that

)

Shelley's right - you can't tell if they are pipped or not - they just pip, zip and RUN! Because we learned the hard way, here's a tip for you: build a frame or cut one of out cardboard and set it around the incubator to contain the little buggers when you open the bator. Otherwise they will run EVERYWHERE. Only needs to be a few inches high because they can't really jump yet but they are fast.

Also, one way that I use to get the humidity up is to put a damp piece of sponge in there with a wet paper towel folded over the top of it. But 63% should be ok; not any lower though. One way to tell if they are starting is if you notice the humidity go up a degree or two after it's been holding steady. That's the only way I've found to tell. Good luck with your hatch and keep us posted!!

 

[UrbanMama]

Are the sides of the Hovabator high enough to keep them in? I put the brooder right next to the hatcher,hoping that it would be easier to move them

I've heard they're fast little buggers!

Don't laugh, but I have cloth diaper liners in there for humidity (made out of bamboo...supposedly antibacterial and holds a ton of moisture

) I'm thinking of switching them with some hemp ones that are backed with fleece. Then the babies won't feel the moisture ('cuz of the fleece top) but I can still get them really soaked.

Yep...it's going to be a looong couple of days!

I am sooo not patient!

 

[LilRalphieRoosmama]

If you're using a Hovabator, yeah, I think the sides are high enough. Forgot about that - I prefer my LG and the sides are lower; that's where we ran into problems. We also smooshed one when we put the lid back on; poor little thing couldn't quite make it over the side and we were so busy trying to catch the others that we didn't notice it. That was not a good night...

I wouldn't laugh, nor did I know they even make diaper liners from bamboo! Been a LONG time since my kids were in diapers, so whatever works! (They are 15 and 19).

And the last few days are a killer...that's when I get most of my exercise running up and down the basement steps every few minutes just to peek! Of course when you least expect it, there they are! Oh - and if you see a zipped shell and are waiting for it to come out, start looking. It's already out. They like to "close the door" behind them!