A&M's hatching

[James the Bald]

We set 77 eggs that are due tomarow. My brooder is 24x48. I keep telling DH it's not big enough.
I think I might be cleaning it twice a day.
Looks like you got enough to start breeding them easy.

After thinking about it, I searched online and found some "facts" (no more "rule of thumb"). According to the Poultry Science Department at Mississippi State, Bobwhite quail raised for meat need 1 square foot per 10 chicks for the 1st 14 days, so you're good. The water is what you'll be changing every hour or so... I swear that quail must think it's a toilet or something. I'm not saying "chicks" because I've got some 10 week old quail that STILL poo in their water.

Also, the kids stayed up until almost midnight cracking up watching new chicks hatch out and other chicks jump all over the place.... on top of the eggs, on both of the digital thermometers, and all over each other... and the kids are "amused" at how chicks will follow the light from a flashlight... when we see a chick starting to hatch, we would shine the light away from that egg, and the chicks all gather away giving it a chance to get out on its feet. In most cases, the chick is out in a matter of 5 minutes or so. This morning at 6:45, I stopped by little James' room and told him there were more chicks, and I swear his feet hit the floor before his eyes were open.
Gotta go, I'll update on Saturday.

For all BYC members on this side of the pond, enjoy your Independence Day and stay safe!
James

 

[quailtrail]

Congrats!!!!!

 

[Julbrod]

Nice! Can't wait for my eggs to hatch.

 

[Joe Prepper]

Congrats on the successful incubation. Funny about the youngin getting up early..... mine d othe same thing when we have new babies. I'm thinking of using that little trick to my advantage by timing my hatch/gestation due dates around when I need the kids up early. Maybe garden picking day!