Bobwhite quail egg help

[Ducklings100]

Hi, so I am incubating 15 bobwhite quail eggs and a few of them have been internally pipped for over 24 hours with no other progress. I have never incubated quail before so I'm not sure if this is normal or not?

 

[Nabiki]

I don't know much about bobwhite quail. 007Sean knows a lot, though. Hopefully he'll be on soon.

 

[BastyPutt]

Hi, so I am incubating 15 bobwhite quail eggs and a few of them have been internally pipped for over 24 hours with no other progress. I have never incubated quail before so I'm not sure if this is normal or not?

In my few quail hatches, they seem to move much quicker than chickens and ducks after pipping. I don't track the internal pips, but I'd think they should be pipped externally by now.

@Nabiki @007Sean may have more insight.

 

[007Sean]

That's perfectly normal. They will rest after internally pipping and will rest again after externally pipping. They will rest again before they start to zip but once they start zipping they will not rest again until they hatch. Usually 18 to 24 hours sometimes longer....sometimes shorter.
By the time you read this, they will have probably pipped externally and some may have already hatched.

 

[Kiki]

Okay, so I candled one and it was still moving and just an hour later it has another crack but very small. I had no idea quails were such slow hatchers...

I've never hatched Bob whites.
Coturnix usually internally pip then about 24 hours later externally pip...then hatch the within the next 24 hours.
They usually zip fast once they start.

 

[Ducklings100]

That's perfectly normal. They will rest after internally pipping and will rest again after externally pipping. They will rest again before they start to zip but once they start zipping they will not rest again until they hatch. Usually 18 to 24 hours sometimes longer....sometimes shorter.
By the time you read this, they will have probably pipped externally and some may have already hatched.

Hi, yes a few have externally pipped throughout today! I was just very concerned with how long it was taking them. Thanks for your help!

 

[Oob Child]

Please update us when they hatch and post photos. I love seeing baby chicks!

 

[Kiki]

The eggs have still made no progress on their external pips since yesterday afternoon. It has now been 24 hours. Do quails normally take this long?

Yes.
My quail usually don't start hatching until after they have been externally pipped for 24 hours.

What is your humidity level at right now and did you salt test your humidity gauge to make sure it is reading correctly?

 

[Kiki]

My humidity is around 70 percent. And no I did not salt test.

Salt test it before you set eggs again to make sure it's close to being accurate.

Too high humidity can cause just as many problems as too low.

I usually keep my eggs at about 30% through out and don't raise it until I see an external pip and then I don't raise it more than 50%.


Have you candled one recently?

 

[Ducklings100]

Salt test it before you set eggs again to make sure it's close to being accurate.

Too high humidity can cause just as many problems as too low.

I usually keep my eggs at about 30% through out and don't raise it until I see an external pip and then I don't raise it more than 50%.


Have you candled one recently?

Yes, I candled them right before lockdown but haven't since then since several have pipped.