This might be really long so please bear with me, I am trying to hatch some quail eggs, they are now on day 22! I did have a problem getting the temp high enough and now its on 98.5. Before I stopped turing them I candled a few and put a red cross on the ones that looked clear. On day 20 I broke one of them to see if they were off as I didn't want to give up on them just yet to my absolute horror there was a live chick in it. Sadly it lasted about a minute. It was fully formed but didn't have too many feathers and quite a lot of yolk. I'm realy worried I have lost the lot. Should i give up hope or wait a few more days? Also I cannot get my humidity passed 60% although I think my guage is wrong as it seems very humid in there. Btw its a homemade incubator, still air. I candled an egg last night and its dark apart from a quite large air sac. I have now taped down the lid to stop me opening it. Any advice or suggestions would be gratefully received. Sorry to waffle on but I'm really concerned about them and am totally gutted about the chick I killed.
First of all, WELCOME! I hope you find the message board to be a nice, friendly and helpful place. I am not an expert at all, but I did want to encourage you to hold on a bit longer. Sometimes eggs take a bit longer to develop and come to hatch due to the temperature being too low or some other variable that happens in the process. If the bator seems to have good humidity I wouldn't stress over numbers. Our numbers never read as high as I wanted them to, but there was condensation in the window and turns out it was just fine. I guess you have to get to know your own bator. As far as opening up an egg you thought was a dud and finding a developing live baby chick-I know that horrible feeling! I think anyone who has incubated eggs has done it. Our first attempt to hatch eggs my husband accidentally dropped an egg he was candling and there was a live baby in it. He still feels sick if he thinks about it. It is all apart of the learning process. Keep the temp and humidity steady and don't open the incubator anymore. Someone with more expertise than I will come along to give you advice about quail eggs. I have incubated Serama eggs, which are small, but haven't gotten to quail yet. Good Luck and Happy Hatching!
Bobwhite and some other quail take 23 days to hatch. Since you feel the temp was a bit low, it may take them a bit longer still. I would just leave them alone for at least 2-3 more days and see what happens. It does not make sence to give up before its time. I understand that Cotunix quail take only 16 days. If your eggs are Cotunix then your hatch may have failed. Lower heat usually does not kill the chicks but it takes longer. Higher temperatures will ruin a hatch. As mentioned, all is part of the learning process and most of us have shared your experience. Good Luck
Thank you both for your replies, I will wait a few more days and see what happens. Will keep you posted.
Quote:If your bator is a still air your temps are way to low. You need to be closer to 101-102. Also I would not go any higher on my humidity. 60% is fine for hatching. Especially since you may have a late hatch. Please don't beat yourself up about the egg. I think we have all been there - done that. Good luck and please let us know what happens!
Thank you, I've got my temps up to 100 now and I've just looked and think i see a little hole. I haven't noticed a crack in one of the eggs before so can only hope its a pip. Can't hear any chirping or tapping though. I am trying not to get too stressed out but its not working lol.
