Bob White Quail incubating

[Quaillvr]

The first quail I incubated took the listed 18 days, the last three or four batches are taking 21 to 24 days to hatch. I almost gave up on the 24 day group. The incubator is set at 99.5 and I have another thermometer/hygrometer inside for verification. What the heck?

 

[albinosilver]

The first quail I incubated took the listed 18 days, the last three or four batches are taking 21 to 24 days to hatch. I almost gave up on the 24 day group. The incubator is set at 99.5 and I have another thermometer/hygrometer inside for verification. What the heck?

18 days is for coturnix quail. Bobwhites take 23-24 days to hatch.

 

[Danny C.]

Don’t be discouraged on days.
Last batch of bobwhites for this season. Out of 56, day 22 - 8, day 23 - 16, day 24 - 1, day 25 - 1. Think that’s all gonna get. Heat in 100’s for last couple weeks and appears fertility pretty low. Laying from 15 hens is down to a couple a day. Not going collect anymore to hatch just eat.
Been fun with 6 hatches and about 175 chicks. Sold 118 and 50 presold to pickup at 5 weeks.
First year to raise quail with a lot of ups and downs, trial and era, and fun to see life begin to being released on a ranch to populate their 300 acres. So cool to watch release knowing I cultivated the birds. Relax and see how next spring turns out.

 

[Quaillvr]

Oh wow! Thank you.

Don’t be discouraged on days.
Last batch of bobwhites for this season. Out of 56, day 22 - 8, day 23 - 16, day 24 - 1, day 25 - 1. Think that’s all gonna get. Heat in 100’s for last couple weeks and appears fertility pretty low. Laying from 15 hens is down to a couple a day. Not going collect anymore to hatch just eat.
Been fun with 6 hatches and about 175 chicks. Sold 118 and 50 presold to pickup at 5 weeks.
First year to raise quail with a lot of ups and downs, trial and era, and fun to see life begin to being released on a ranch to populate their 300 acres. So cool to watch release knowing I cultivated the birds. Relax and see how next spring turns out.

Where are you? It has been 100s here in Dayton, Nevada too. I only have 5 hens and getting 2 to 3 eggs a day. I have 34 eggs ready to hatch within 4 days. Hoping they all hatch.

 

[Danny C.]

Oh wow! Thank you.

Where are you? It has been 100s here in Dayton, Nevada too. I only have 5 hens and getting 2 to 3 eggs a day. I have 34 eggs ready to hatch within 4 days. Hoping they all hatch.

I’m in North Central Texas. My birds been laying since late April early May.

 

[Quaillvr]

Don’t be discouraged on days.
Last batch of bobwhites for this season. Out of 56, day 22 - 8, day 23 - 16, day 24 - 1, day 25 - 1. Think that’s all gonna get. Heat in 100’s for last couple weeks and appears fertility pretty low. Laying from 15 hens is down to a couple a day. Not going collect anymore to hatch just eat.
Been fun with 6 hatches and about 175 chicks. Sold 118 and 50 presold to pickup at 5 weeks.
First year to raise quail with a lot of ups and downs, trial and era, and fun to see life begin to being released on a ranch to populate their 300 acres. So cool to watch release knowing I cultivated the birds. Relax and see how next spring turns out.

I am also wondering if you do the float method before placing the eggs into the incubator. There is a guy on Utube videos, his tag name is slightly rednecked, he advocates what he calls the float method. You have a shallow container filled with room temp water. Place the egg in the water, if it will not lay on its side it will not hatch according to him. I have not thoroughly scientifically tested to see if it is true, but between candling and this float method I have been getting about 95% hatch rate. There is always a few that don’t completely develop for some reason. A few times I got 100% hatch rate. I really like his videos, check them out.

 

[RosieR]

I am also wondering if you do the float method before placing the eggs into the incubator. There is a guy on Utube videos, his tag name is slightly rednecked, he advocates what he calls the float method. You have a shallow container filled with room temp water. Place the egg in the water, if it will not lay on its side it will not hatch according to him. I have not thoroughly scientifically tested to see if it is true, but between candling and this float method I have been getting about 95% hatch rate. There is always a few that don’t completely develop for some reason. A few times I got 100% hatch rate. I really like his videos, check them out.

I’m going to try it next time. I don’t think it has anything to do with fertility, but the moisture content of the egg and how old it is. Which can be a factor as well for sure.

 

[Quaillvr]

I’m going to try it next time. I don’t think it has anything to do with fertility, but the moisture content of the egg and how old it is. Which can be a factor as well for sure.

Oh yes, that is where candling comes in.

 

[Danny C.]

I am also wondering if you do the float method before placing the eggs into the incubator. There is a guy on Utube videos, his tag name is slightly rednecked, he advocates what he calls the float method. You have a shallow container filled with room temp water. Place the egg in the water, if it will not lay on its side it will not hatch according to him. I have not thoroughly scientifically tested to see if it is true, but between candling and this float method I have been getting about 95% hatch rate. There is always a few that don’t completely develop for some reason. A few times I got 100% hatch rate. I really like his videos, check them out.

First batch and second batch candled and saw high percent of veins after week or so. Never felt good about floating from hearing pros and cons about it. By third to last batches I just took what I got. Mother Nature decided, even the few that piped but didn’t hatch I just accepted. Wasn’t into that much of the scientific stuff yet. Maybe try some different experiments next year. Loved the births and next few weeks of their fast growing.