all who are hatching quail

[Quailsong]

This is my first time incubating, had 57 Coturnix eggs go in on 5/3/13. Cross your fingers. I've been obsessing over getting things right. =)

Someone gave me a wild egg found when they were removing bird nests from a property (birds look like Finches maybe). And my daughters found (what they guess is) a Robin egg in the yard yesterday, and I've placed both of those in as well. From everything I've read it's almost impossible to keep wild birds alive after hatching (due to necessity of being fed every 15-20 minutes without fail). I just can't let the eggs die without trying to help.

Is it possible that the wild eggs may harm my Coturnix eggs that are already 11 days into incubation? (I can turn the wild eggs after lockdown, without opening)

I personally wouldn't mess with wild eggs. Not only may it be illegal in your area, but you could be putting the bird's life in danger. Even if it lives to feathered stage, it's not used to the wilds & will not know how to forage or even migrate when the time comes.

 

[SavageChick]

If it is a robin or finch, be prepared to feed it by hand every 30-60 mins. You will need to find earthworms, crickets, saw bugs, basically any insect you can find (they do not do well with the tube formula feedings if that is what your plan is). It's a great deal of work, and they do not forage for food on their own in the chick stage like your quail will. What I am saying here is that they will not peck at starter feed -- you will need to hand feed them explicitly. You tap their beak to get them to open and you feed them with tweezers to replicate both the depth and the movement of the mother's beak. Not trying to be so negative about this, especially since you already have the egg in your incubator, but if you cannot be around 24/7 to feed it by hand, it will likely lead to a heartbreaking loss in a day or two after its hatching. I say this only from experience of trying to rescue both robin and finch chicks when a nest has been abandoned on our property. Is there a raptor center near you? If there is, I would call them to see if they will take it for you as soon as it hatches.

 

[swords75xlh]

50 coturnix day 15 shouldn't they be moving around ?

 

[wishful suburbanite]

hmm I'm having quite a staggered hatch. It's day 20. Most came out yesterday.

However there's one that's only a quarter of the way through zip and hadn't made any process yesterday. I increased the humidity with hot, wet paper towels and I was going to give it some time before I tried to help it but now my homemade incubator doesn't want to come up to temp. I guess I lost a lot of heat with the babies I already moved to the brooder. Some already hatched on day 18 so they had to go.

It's like 90 degree in there from one of my thermometer's readings but I put it in a good warm spot. I realize I have irregular temps from the staggered hatch. =( 90 is way too low but its spot should be warmer. I hope it's alright when I get back from work because I will try to help it then.

 

[ricky60]

I am new to the quail game I have 30 texas a&m white quail. And I just started my second batch of eggs last night. Right now I have 237 eggs in the incubators. What sort of hatch rate should I look for?

 

[McPhersonFarm]

I am new to the quail game I have 30 texas a&m white quail. And I just started my second batch of eggs last night. Right now I have 237 eggs in the incubators. What sort of hatch rate should I look for?

Are they local or shipped eggs?

 

[ricky60]

They are from my own hens

 

[swords75xlh]

day 2 of lock down i hear peeps.

How much longer ?

 

[kwainwr]

i had 35 of 60 to hatch in my first batch ever.... they were the 1st eggs of the season from my older bobwhites; and they are now 3 weeks old...got to figure out when they can go in with the older ones... and i have 120 more in the incubator right now; so i am hoping all goes well... i have raised chickens before but never quail until this year; and i can say...they are funny little critters.... i have enjoyed watching them. but now that i have enough birds that i want i am about pickeled out on eggs...lol.. i have another 100 eggs in fridge.. guess i better start another batch to pickel... i have already done up 10 jars.. need to try to get rid of some i guess..lol.. good luck to all i know i have enjoyed.. and the rate i am going may have more birds than space

 

[quailtrail]

i had 35 of 60 to hatch in my first batch ever.... they were the 1st eggs of the season from my older bobwhites; and they are now 3 weeks old...got to figure out when they can go in with the older ones... and i have 120 more in the incubator right now; so i am hoping all goes well... i have raised chickens before but never quail until this year; and i can say...they are funny little critters.... i have enjoyed watching them. but now that i have enough birds that i want i am about pickeled out on eggs...lol.. i have another 100 eggs in fridge.. guess i better start another batch to pickel... i have already done up 10 jars.. need to try to get rid of some i guess..lol.. good luck to all i know i have enjoyed.. and the rate i am going may have more birds than space

That's a lot of birds!!! But it is soooo addictive!