Advice please - quail incubating boo boo

[windsweptstina]

I've made a silly mistake... I hadn't realised the difference in hatching period of Chinese painted quail and californian quail... I've just started incubating both in my brinsea octagon 20 this evening. I'm normally very good at planning, but have made a big mistake with this lot and feel very stupid.

So, I'm worrying that the disruption of removing CPQ chicks to the brooder on day 16/17 will affect my CQ who won't be due to hatch for another week.

Also, should I stop rotating eggs as per CPQ requirements (day 14) or CQ (day 20)? What will do most harm?

Any other words of wisdom (other than to research things more thoroughly in future!) ?

Thanks in advance... Cristina

 

[silkiechicken]

If it is a week difference, I would just try to divide up the space and remove the hatched chicks with minimal disturbance of the ones due later. I would also try to line the area of the early hatchers, to clean out as much post hach junk as possible as to not stink up the bator too much. Good luck!

 

[windsweptstina]

Thank you! It does seem the sensible way to go... Fingers crossed I can remove hatchlings quickly and in only a few attempts rather than causing mass disturbance.


Would you lock down at day 14 and stay locked or would you start turning again after first batch?

Cristina

 

[silkiechicken]

I'm not familiar with the design of your incubator, but I would put up a mesh divider of some sort to keep the early hatchers on one side. Then make as few as possible openings of the bator during that hatch window. If they were mine, I'd probably continue turning the eggs that are not ready till the first pip was seen in the ones that would normally be in lock down. And after all the hatches, continue to turn as usual. My feeling on turning is that it is less critical during the later stages of development. Good luck!