Day 18 and Nothing

[sbw82]

All 5 Coturnix eggs float, but there is no wobbling. When I candled them they aren't bright but they still have a glow. By day 18 they should be dark, right? I am giving them one more day because my kids want to wait. I have 16 more waiting to go in. These 16 have been collected over the past 2 weeks with the most recent being collected yesterday. They have been stored at room temperature and turned 2-3 times per day. What would you do?

 

[GrandmaBird]

Well for starters I would not expect a high hatch rate if you keep them for 2 weeks before incubating and store them at room temp it is to warm they should be at 50 or a bit less or the embryo will start to develop and the chances are great it will die as the temp is not high enough. Store them about or less than 1 week, turning at least daily.
As for the current hatch we need more info, were your temps fine or high or low same with humidity, in a turner or hand turned and if so how many times per day? Also if in a still air or fan incubator? More questions then answers at this point.

 

[sbw82]

We have an LG 9300 with the fan kit. The temp has been 99.5-100.5 the entire time with humidity in the 30-45% range. we also have the egg turner. I thought I had read a few different posts where people keep their eggs at room temp for up to 2 weeks

 

[Invision]

You should be ok as far as the 2 weeks, some fertility does start to drop if they have been stored that long, just like stated above you do need to keep them in a cool room (I keep mine in my shed during summer on concrete floor). Far as it being day 18, pull an egg out (REMEMBER which way you picked it up) shine a light on the air sack at an angle for a few minutes or until you see movement. If no movement that doesn't mean it's dead sometimes tapping lightly on the shell will wake up the sleepyhead. Check a good number of eggs, but don't write them off because they could be a day late depending on when you placed them. For me if I placed, say on November 1st (like I did) I don't start counting until 24 hours later as day 1. So today is my day 17... (keep in mind that Whole lock-down thing is kind of a suggestion, I'm telling you now a mother hens underside is not a consistent humidity and temperature on hatch day...)

 

[Invision]

We have an LG 9300 with the fan kit.

And by the way, I HATE that incubator. the thermostat is the DUMBEST concept I have ever had to deal with... Might be fine for a still air but useless for a circulated one...

 

[adrian0227]

You should increase the humidity a bit more, when it's dry it is hard for them to get out.

 

[Invision]

You should increase the humidity a bit more, when it's dry it is hard for them to get out.

I've hatched successfully at 16% humidity. So their ok as far as that.

 

[313759]

This might be time for a smelling test! I hate this test but it works... sometimes. Put the egg to your nose and smell, if it smells rotten... then yeah it's dead.

 

[Invision]

Float testing is another one but sometimes the chick is sleeping...