Bobwhite Eggs Not Hatching

[sschicks1245]

Hi, I have 1 male and 1 female bobwhite quail that are regularly laying eggs, and I've been collecting them and putting them in an incubator. It is difficult to adjust temperature/humidity or completely lockdown at 18 days because each egg is from a different day. Currently the temp is 99-100 and the humidity is around 65%. I have 25 eggs total so far. 2 eggs were supposed to hatch on the 11th and 2 eggs were supposed to hatch yesterday. I candled them before they went into lockdown and all were fertile with veins and a visible moving embryo, but they haven't hatched. They haven't even pipped yet. I've done lots of research, but this is my first time incubating eggs. Every website says a different humidity to use and also my eggs are on their sides (not big side up like some websites say) because I have been hand turning them 5x a day until "lockdown". I have also been so careful not to contaminate them. Why haven't my eggs pipped yet? Is there anything I can do? Thank you so much for your help!

 

[gdg327]

You might like to save this that I got from GQF

 

[Kiki]

Please don't set eggs like this again in the future.
Just collect the eggs for a few days and set them all at the same time at once.

 

[sschicks1245]

Please don't set eggs like this again in the future.
Just collect the eggs for a few days and set them all at the same time at once.

Okay, but if they are only laying 1 egg per day and I only have one incubator I'm not sure how else to do it. You are only supposed to store them for up to 7 days. Does this mean all of the eggs in my incubator will not hatch? I'm not sure what to do to save them. Do I have to buy another incubator? Make one the locked down incubator?? Please help

 

[Kiki]

Okay, but if they are only laying 1 egg per day and I only have one incubator I'm not sure how else to do it. You are only supposed to store them for up to 7 days. Does this mean all of the eggs in my incubator will not hatch? I'm not sure what to do to save them. Do I have to buy another incubator? Make one the locked down incubator?? Please help

I have no idea if any of the eggs are going to hatch in your incubator.

Have you ever hatched anything before?
Do you have a calibrated thermometer, at least one, in your incubator and has your humidity gauge been salt tested?

If the answer is no, start there, get them all before setting eggs again.

 

[Willowspirit]

We we able to hatch 8/10 bobwhite eggs by collecting them just as @Kiki suggested.

 

[007Sean]

Bobwhite's have a 24 day incubation period, not 18 days.
Staggard hatches are hard for an experienced hatcher, much less a 1st timer.
Collect the eggs for a week, set them, then collect for another week before you set anymore...setting 1 egg everyday or every other day is a disaster waiting to happen. Even with a 7 day separation in time of setting can become a complete nightmare.

A better plan would be to set the first eggs, wait until they hatch, then set another batch. Multiple incubators isn't feasible for so few eggs.
@Kiki has given you some excellent advice on thermometers and hygrometers, so I won't bore you with repeating her advice.

 

[sschicks1245]

Thank you so much for your help. The eggs all just pipped!

 

[Willowspirit]

How is it going?