Day 17 - No Movement in Remaining Eggs - What to Expect?

[Japoniquail]

Hello! I just got a batch of fertile eggs shipped and am currently incubating them. This is my 3rd time trying - the previous 2 times I had various success rates as they were supermarket eggs back in Japan.

This time, as I've done before, I made sure to have an extra thermometer and hydrometer in there and took the roller tray out at Day 15. The thermometer is reading 37.5 C and the humidity at 70% - it was at around 35% before Day 15. I am currently in lockdown and 6 have hatched. I waited for them to dry before taking them out and placing them into their brooder - they did kick the other eggs around quite a bit before I moved them though.

The rest of the eggs definitely have something in them - I candled at Day 15 and made sure to remove non-viable eggs (nothing in them). I also made sure there were no pips or cracks in any of the other eggs before removing the 6 to go into the brooder.

After candling again though when I moved the other chicks to the brooder, I did not see any movement in the other eggs. There are still red veins in them and it's dark, but I don't see any movement, nor do I hear any peeping or tapping when I tap on them and hold them close to my ear.

I've read the How to Incubate quail thread/post and I've seen the candling videos of what I should be seeing. As I don't see anything though, do I just give up on them, or should I still wait until Day 20? Is it possible for them to be alive even if there are no signs of them moving at all or is it just a waste of time to wait?

Thanks in advance!

Edit: Forgot to add - these are Coturnix Quail - the person I bought them from said they were Jumbo in their sales post, and I have one celadon egg, a few other jumbo, and one standard sized egg that is still in the incubator that I'm hoping will hatch into healthy chicks if they're still alive.

 

[sourland]

If for some reason your incubator was heating unevenly, they may be a bit slower in developing. I'd give them another couple of days. Good luck.

 

[BrandonsBirbs]

If for some reason your incubator was heating unevenly, they may be a bit slower in developing. I'd give them another couple of days. Good luck.

I would wait too.

70% is very high for lockdown humidity, I generally recommend nearer 55%-60%.

 

[Nabiki]

I agree that your humidity is too high. I would give them until day 20 before giving up, especially if they look good when you candle.

 

[Japoniquail]

If for some reason your incubator was heating unevenly, they may be a bit slower in developing. I'd give them another couple of days. Good luck.

Thank you! I’ll do so. If they were slow in developing, does that mean not seeing any movement is normal?

I feel like there’s generally at least some movement throughout, whether it be the heartbeat or the bird itself moving. :0

 

[Japoniquail]

I would wait too.

70% is very high for lockdown humidity, I generally recommend nearer 55%-60%.

Thank you! I was basing it off of various results on the net and aiming for 55-70%, but if it’s too high, I will lower it

 

[Japoniquail]

I agree that your humidity is too high. I would give them until day 20 before giving up, especially if they look good when you candle.

Thank you!
What is look good considered? There’s no movement, just the veins, the air sac, and the dark area where the chick is likely to be. Are there times where I wouldn’t see any movement at all?

 

[Nabiki]

Thank you!
What is look good considered? There’s no movement, just the veins, the air sac, and the dark area where the chick is likely to be. Are there times where I wouldn’t see any movement at all?

Veins are a good sign. Can you see an internal pip? They often rest after pipping internally, so may not see movement.

 

[artbykarenehaley]

I had a hatch go like this; half hatched one day and the rest the next. Some may have pipped inside through the membrane or air sac and are taking a breather before they start the hatching process. The no peeping or tapping does make me suspicious that they're done, but wait and see for another day.

 

[Japoniquail]

Veins are a good sign. Can you see an internal pip? They often rest after pipping internally, so may not see movement.

Do veins tend to mean that there’s life inside? And do they disappear if they’ve passed?

I’ve watched the videos of candling and can’t really see in the videos the internal pips, so hard to tell if mine have or not as I’m not quite sure what I’m looking for.