Day 17 no peeps eggs not moving.

[pmk3001]

Hi All

I am on day 17, none of my coturnix quail eggs are moving, none have peeped, should I be worried?

Thanks

 

[Graphite91]

Have you had any problems with incubation? Like temp spikes or super low/high humidity? Did you turn the eggs at least three times a day and stop at day 14? Did you raise humidity at lockdown? Have you been opening the incubator a lot since lockdown?

If all that stuff is ok, then the only reason some wouldn't hatch is if they were infertile to begin with! So don't panic just yet.

 

[pmk3001]

No temperature or humidity spikes as far as I know. raise humidity to 70 before lockdown. I opened it today as humidity dropped to 67, I put a wet paper towel in. Should the eggs be moving?

 

[ThaJuicyJuice]

Quail should have a higher incubation temperature than other poultry. Research shows that temperatures of 101 are ideal for coturnix. Over 100 is also best for chickens. The accepted norm of 99.5 must be just a safe guard as it is a central point that allows for the full development of an embryo without slower growth or too rapid, which would result in a deformed chick. Lower temperatures will make it a longer incubation period, unless you had a circulated 101-102 temp range.

Other than temperature, we should also recognize that quail incubation typically takes 17-19 days with higher incubation temps on the shorter end, and lower temps on the higher ends. I've had chicks hatch around day 15 1/2 with temps of 102-103 as an experiment. Those that don't hatch past 19 usually are dead in shell.

Also, we must remember to count correctly. There must be 17 full days of incubation where day one starts from a full 24 hours once the eggs have been placed in the incubator.

 

[sniper338]

Give it a few more days...

 

[dc3085]

I hatch over 1000 chicks a year at never less than an 80% hatch rate and usually close to 90%.

If you run coturnix eggs at 101* you will have day 15 hatches and that is unacceptable, you can't run the temp that high unless you're running a still air incubator. Hundreds of thousands of people are running the temps the I listed below, there is no need to try to re-invent the wheel, if the wheel already rolls well.

Incubation
99 3/4 @ 50-55%

Lock down
99 1/2 @ 65-70%

 

[ThaJuicyJuice]

Your regional location can also determine the hatch rate, which define more conclusively humidity and temperatures you should maintain for best results. Despite the accepted norms, actual research exists which has both internal and external validity to support higher temps and lower humidity. The assumption that relative humidity should be bumped up to over 60 % will result in greater difficulties in hatching, longer duration for incubation, and/or chick mortality. It was reported that "high RH (75-80%) increased mortality and a low RH (40-50%) lowered late embryo death of eggs laid by older hens" (Robertson 1961; Bruzual et al 2000). In these studies "Japanese quail eggs incubated at the lower humidity presented the highest level of hatchability (79%)."

As far as temperature goes, get off BYC and read some of the literature on Coturnix incubation temperature. Empirical sources support higher temperatures, which is not to say that hatch rates cannot be excellent at the given rate of 99.5, but to definitively state that anything above this results in inferior incubation is false. Those that do not follow research and have great results are the exception, not the rule.

 

[Tdubg22]

I just hatched out 63 chicks. Started on day 16 and hatched until day 21. So it seems to me you still have time.

 

[dc3085]

Your regional location can also determine the hatch rate, which define more conclusively humidity and temperatures you should maintain for best results. Despite the accepted norms, actual research exists which has both internal and external validity to support higher temps and lower humidity. The assumption that relative humidity should be bumped up to over 60 % will result in greater difficulties in hatching, longer duration for incubation, and/or chick mortality. It was reported that "high RH (75-80%) increased mortality and a low RH (40-50%) lowered late embryo death of eggs laid by older hens" (Robertson 1961; Bruzual et al 2000). In these studies "Japanese quail eggs incubated at the lower humidity presented the highest level of hatchability (79%)."

As far as temperature goes, get off BYC and read some of the literature on Coturnix incubation temperature. Empirical sources support higher temperatures, which is not to say that hatch rates cannot be excellent at the given rate of 99.5, but to definitively state that anything above this results in inferior incubation is false. Those that do not follow research and have great results are the exception, not the rule.

I don't need a college kids research paper to tell me that 101 is too high. I've run 120 eggs a week, 6 months a year, for several years now. How is it an exception to rule that I have such a good hatch rate with my numbers? An exception happens occasionally, I hatch no less than 80% every week and usually more (don't get me wrong I have a 70% hatch in the woodpile every now and then but not often).

That paper you're citing doesn't even achieve my normal minimum hatch rate. It also mentions that the lower humidity numbers were better for embryos produced by older hens it makes no mention of healthy adult hens. Most of us do not run elderly birds, I only run eggs from birds aged 2-12 months.

Keep in mind genetics also play a role in hatching. Some birds will hatch up to two days before other lines. If you're running a mixed group like a lot of people tend to and run those high temps, the early hatchers will be pipping on day 15 instead of late 16 or early 17 like I want. I run a lot of birds with varying genetics and I've noticed early hatching as low 100.5.

When I read what I write I often sound like an arse, It's not my intention. I grew up around roughnecks and turned into one before I noticed. Brusque is my natural manner so please no one take offense to the things I say.

 

[ThaJuicyJuice]

DC3085 I think the discourse that is taking place on the forum is important as you add some much needed experiential advice to animal husbandry. Say things in the best way you can... fact is fact and if you have good results, state them proudly.

We can't, however, negate an empirical study, which is in itself supported by trial and error and by a vast body of research. This is what fuels and funds our economic systems, the manufacturing of our products, and every aspect of the buying and selling of commercial goods.

The study used 16 week old hens, which is considered older as in the quail industry they are given 2-3 years before being retired from production. Older is a relative term as 16 months is pretty darn close to 24.