Bad quail hatch

[tinkatwerp]

So we set 20 eggs, and 5 hatched. All the rest were partially developed, but we don't know what caused them to die. Temperature was pretty well maintained (we have a forced air hovabator) but humidity could have been a bit more stable, but idk if that would cause a mass die out about halfway through. We want to get more eggs and try again (5 birds isn't much of a flock, and I think it may be mostly males)but we would like a better hatch rate. Suggestions?

 

[TwoCrows]

Bad hatch rates early on can be caused from eggs being roughly handled during shipping, bad genetics from the parent birds or breed birds that were not fed properly, improper temps (usually too high), fluctuating temps, not enough humidity or too much, not enough ventilation and disease transferred from the parent birds to the eggs.

So it was one or more of these things. Make sure to always start with the highest quality eggs from good breeder stock. Try not to have them shipped, but if you do, set twice as many as you need. Make sure your incubator is in a draft free area. Wind blowing in on the incubator from a window or door will greatly effect your temps. So keep the bator in a room with constant temps AND humidity levels. If you have vents you can open on your bator, keep them open all the time for maximum oxygen flowing thru the bator. And ALWAYS fumigate your bator after each hatch. Clean it well so you are not breeding diseases.

 

[TwoCrows]

Oh and ALWAYS use two thermometers...the one on the incubator itself and one you place inside. Never rely on just one. Things go bad. And keep a hydrometer in the bator as well. Always have back up gauges going so you know if there is a problem.

 

[JJSS89]

Well TwoCrows said it all.

I would say try a different breeder stock if you're sure that your temperature and humidity are good. I am not sure that bad temperature and/or humidity would kill them all that early on though and if it were that bad, I don't think 5 would survive. I would get another few thermometers and cross-reference your readings. It is not unusual for undernourished/old/stressed hens to lay eggs that are fertile but don't go the distance.

Don't give up, I know it's frustrating. BTW, I have a HovaBator 1588 (forced air w/ temp and hygrometer) probably the same one you have. The temperature is more than a full degree Fahrenheit off. I have it set to 100.8 which is obviously too hot but the real temperature is 99.5 on the inside and it gave me a near perfect hatch of quail at this setting. Of course yours is probably different but it reemphasizes my point to double check your readings.

Keep us posted!

 

[SliderShooter]

I am having the same problem with a low hatch rate. My hatch was around 80% then it dropped to 20% with the same incubator and the same breeders. It is a real challenge trying to figure out where the problem is.

 

[JJSS89]

I am having the same problem with a low hatch rate. My hatch was around 80% then it dropped to 20% with the same incubator and the same breeders. It is a real challenge trying to figure out where the problem is.

Time of year? Fertility rates are lower in colder months.

Nutrition? Might not be strong enough embryos.

Age of stock? Older birds don't have the strongest chicks either.

 

[tinkatwerp]

Now that I think of it it probably was temperature. We had he incubator right next to an air vent and while I thought it was holding steady I'm not around all day.

 

[TwoCrows]

Yes, that will do it. Any moving are around the incubator will cause too much fluctuations. Keep the bator in a room with still air and humidity that remains the same and you should do fine.

 

[JJSS89]

Best of luck to you. I hope to see a thread with some little fuzzballs of yours soon.

I think if I hadn't been incubating chicken eggs for years and years prior to getting into quail - I might have given up because they are quite a different (and more difficult) little bugger to hatch. I have 82 bobwhite eggs that are halfway done (day 12) right now and I hope that you have your own little embryos to candle again soon.