button quails; still alive or goners??

[ElizabethChau]

My button quail has laid 8 eggs, the first on June 27th and one a day after that. I let her keep them in her cage up until July 3rd, but decided she was not consistently or routinely sitting on them. So I built an incubator out of a cardboard box and placed the eggs on a terry cloth within a smaller shallow box to keep them from rolling anywhere. A small water dish with a little bit of water for humidity. I've managed to keep the temp pretty steady at 101.8 (still air so slightly higher temp or so I've read?). My question is, did I allow the female too much time and now the eggs are dead or if they are alive....what day do I count from to get their actual hatch day!? I turn them every 4 hours, often every 3. Does anyone think they could truly be alive still?

 

[GrandmaBird]

they are normally good for 5-7 days but it all depends on the air temp and how they are stored. I collected 11 eggs in a row from one female and incubated them all and 7 hatched. I thought this was a good number. one of the others had a partially formed chick inside and the others were all just yolk and white...not fertile. so good luck. you will know in 16 days. the first day in the incubator is not counted...when placed it is day zero after first full 24 hours is day 1 etc.

 

[ElizabethChau]

Thanks! I'll know in 13 days then since they've been in for 3 days! The eggs were laid on very hot days. All that week was sweltering!

 

[thatchickenlady]

If they were out in a hot environment for too long it could affect the hatch but you'll probably be okay. Usually best to store eggs in a cool place until put into incubator -- 55-60 degree F is often recommended for storage temp.

 

[ElizabethChau]

We'll see how they do! they should be hatching around the 20-24th. Can't seem to keep the incubator at a constant temp cuz I have had to keep turning the eggs by hand or add water. Temp bounces around from 99 to 102 yet after a fluctuation I manage to get it back to 100- 101 fairly quickly. The first couple days were weird cuz it appeared to be holding a stable temp but when I placed the eggs in there it was fluctuating from 99 and to (for a short time each time this happened) to 104.2. I've always been quick to adjust the temp back to its proper spot but I worry nonetheless. It's all a horrible waiting game of uncertainty, next time I feel the need to help hatch a clutch of my quails eggs I will be buying a REAL incubator! I'll post a new thread on the hatch ((that's IF any do hatch!)). Thanks everyone for your help