Advice on hatching coturnix eggs.

[crazzzymike13]

Yesterday right after I put them on lock down my chicks started hatchin. I thought I still had 2 or 3 days left til hatch day. Now I have 5 chicks that hatched. I still have like 30 eggs left. Should I keep the eggs in the bator another 3 days? Do coturnix usually hatch all at once? I thought I read something about giving them more time to hatch than a chicken. That true?

 

[TwoCrows]

Absolutely. As with all poultry, some can hatch later than others and some just hatch way too soon! LOL

I usually go about 3 days after the the average hatch date. If any eggs are rocking and rolling, I let them be til they hatch. If nothing is happening, you can either do a candling or a float test on them. If you think they are duds, then after this time, you can shut it down.

 

[crazzzymike13]

Ok cool! I still have a bunch with cracks and stuff. I sure hope the majority hatch. Idk why they hatched as early as they did. My temperature stayed right at 100 the whole time.

 

[TwoCrows]

Are you using a still air or forced air incubator? 100 is too high for forced air and that would cause them to hatch early. High temps can cause birth defect as well.

BUT...you have some hatching and congrats on the new babies!

 

[crazzzymike13]

Forced air. Reptipro 6000. I have one about to come out of his shell.

 

[TwoCrows]

Next time you incubate, run around 99.5 degrees.