Eggs during lockdown?

[swatmommy]

This is my first time hatching quail. I received them through the mail, but only 17/36 weren't cracked (or the air sack was dislodged). Of those 17, only 6 appeared fertile. While I never saw an embryo move, there was growth in the egg as expected.

I'm currently on day 16, and nothing yet. No egg movement or peeps- do quail do that like chickens? My temps were steady (99-100), my humidity was at 45% and I upped it to 60-65% during lockdown (can't seem to get it any higher), which was day 14. I did have a temp drop down to 95 for a couple hours (I have NO idea what happened there) just before lockdown. I think my thermometer might be reading a little low though, so might have reached 101...

I am anxious

we invited my five year old nephew to visit so he could watch a hatch, but he leaves tomorrow.

Sorry for the long post- short version, should I be seeing some action? Egg movement, cheering, pipping? Something lol?

 

[Fat Daddy]

This is my first time hatching quail. I received them through the mail, but only 17/36 weren't cracked (or the air sack was dislodged). Of those 17, only 6 appeared fertile. While I never saw an embryo move, there was growth in the egg as expected.

I'm currently on day 16, and nothing yet. No egg movement or peeps- do quail do that like chickens? My temps were steady (99-100), my humidity was at 45% and I upped it to 60-65% during lockdown (can't seem to get it any higher), which was day 14. I did have a temp drop down to 95 for a couple hours (I have NO idea what happened there) just before lockdown. I think my thermometer might be reading a little low though, so might have reached 101...

I am anxious

we invited my five year old nephew to visit so he could watch a hatch, but he leaves tomorrow.

Sorry for the long post- short version, should I be seeing some action? Egg movement, cheering, pipping? Something lol?

Hello, Your hatch seems to be moving along as I would expect. Mine usually hatch on day 18 so he may miss the hatching action. You should at least see a few pips any time...... Maybe you get lucky and get some before he leaves.... Good luck

 

[swatmommy]

Hello, Your hatch seems to be moving along as I would expect.  Mine usually hatch on day 18 so he may miss the hatching action. You should at least see a few pips any time...... Maybe you get lucky and get some before he leaves.... Good luck

After your post, I decided to take a closer look at the eggs (with a flashlight lol), and one has pipped!!! Happy dance!

 

[Fat Daddy]

Glad to hear it.... Maybe one will hatch in time for him to see it happen!!!

 

[MagicPidge]

Best of luck!

 

[swatmommy]

Another quick question - I was looking closely at the pip, and the membrane is slightly yellow, Humidity is over 60%. I was surprised to see the membrane is still in tact while there is a small piece of shell missing. Is this normal?
TIA!!

 

[cookiesdaddy]

Please resist the urge to open the incubator to look closer or candle. Humidity drop can quickly dry up the membrane and cause shrink wrap. Yellow membrane is not a good sign.

 

[swatmommy]

I know not to open the incubator, but it's hard! Lol. I have windows on the tiop that I keep peeking through every few minutes. I managed to get the humidity up to 75% (I have a fish tank tube leading into the incubator to the water pans). Can the humidity get too high for these guys?

Thanks for your help!!

 

[CaptainPooka]

I'm no expert, but from what I read yes the humidity can be too high. You'll end up keeping the membrane too saturated and they'll drown (or something like that...)
I just hatched my first set of quail. They all hatched on day 15-17 and I have three more fertile eggs in the incubator (It's day 18). I kept my temps at 99.8 until day 15 and actually downed my temp to 99.3 as they were hatching early. My humidity was high 50s the whole time. I have the hovabor genesis that has all of those reservoirs, but I just use number 3 and supplement with a plastic cup of water as needed. During lockdown I kept the humidity from 60-70%, trying to keep closer to 70. It didn't matter much as my eggs hatched early. I had 21 eggs, all hatched but the three in there, then there were three eggs that were just infertile so I'm **** near 100%! As for opening the lid during lockdown, I did that a lot! Not to check the eggs, but to take out the broken egg shells and the chicks after they dried up a bit!

From what I've experienced I'm going to leave my bator at 99.5% and humidity from 50-60%, then up to 70% during lockdown. Hope this helps...

 

[swatmommy]

One baby!!