Candling Quail Eggs?

[LoupGarou]

I have got my first quail eggs in my incubator. As per the breeder, I have the incubator set at 99.5 degrees and roughly 35% humidity. At what days should I candle these eggs in order to determine their progress? I've already done so once, just to look for porous eggs (I had an issue with them the last time I hatched eggs), but I was wondering when I might expect to see life?

 

[Boyd]

Sadly, I've never been able to candle coturnix eggs, although bobwhite's would probably be easier.

 

[monarc23]

If they're coturnix no real point candling them, what i do is if one stinks you'll find it easily LOL...remove and incubate...and wait the 16-18 days and see who hatches lol. you can candle coturnix eggs but it is challenging and some you can't tell for your life lol.

Bobwhites you can

 

[LoupGarou]

*sigh* I guess I'll have to wait until I set my chicken eggs before indulging in my candling obsession, then. Thanks for the responses! Can I ask, though, what makes them so difficult to candle?

 

[shelleyd2008]

You can candle them, to at least see if they are developing. If any are clear, it will be obvious. The egg will light up like a light bulb. As for seeing veins? Almost impossible without a really really good candler!

 

[monarc23]

Quote:
the spots and blue tinting inside the egg you can try but it's a challenge

 

[LoupGarou]

I like challenges, but that one sounds a bit daunting--so I think I'll pass. LOL However, I forgot to ask something. Since quail eggs have such a variable hatching range, at what day do I turn off my automatic turner? Thanks!

 

[Boyd]

Day 14, then ramp up your humidity slightly

 

[cawooduck]

I candled my Coturnix quail eggs after 5 days and could barely see veining, but only in the lighter colored eggs, if they were darker eggs i couldnt see anything except a green tint in the eggs. On day 10 if anything was still somewhat transparent, i considered it unfertil and tossed it. I had 112 eggs in the incubator through the full term, so i didnt candle every egg, but relied on the lighter eggs to tell the story of how things were coming along!!

Chicken eggs are so much easier and educational for my kids because you can watch the whole embryonic process!!