Eliminating Bad Eggs (quail)

[AJoy16]

Quail eggs are notoriously hard to candle (based on what I'm seeing and reading online). I was wondering if and when I should eliminate eggs from my incubator that are completely clear?

 

[OzQuailNewbie]

Also interested

 

[AJoy16]

Not sure anyone is willing to answer. The thread has been dead since I posted it. Lol

 

[BDutch]

I am willing to answer. But I can't give you any clue because I never had quail or quail eggs to hatch. Sometimes it helps to react on you're own post. More people will see it.

 

[Floydie]

What day are you on? I wait until around day ten at least before pulling clears or possible quitters. I'm having no problems candling my eggs. On hatch no 4 and all have been easy to see if they are developing or not. Once you get closer to hatch day you won't see much, maybe the odd leg movement, the chicks really fill those little eggs and will look very dark.

 

[cmfarm]

They really aren't that hard to candle. I usually can tell by the air sac and if they egg is more of a pink/red color inside instead of clear/yellowish. Since they are smaller I find it easier to see into them if I put my flashlight on the top side of the egg instead of directly on top (easier to see the air cell).

 

[Ebony Rose]

My coturnix japanese quail take about 18 days to hatch. If yours are also coturnix japanese quail, I'd discard any that are on day 22 without pip or zip (indications of life). I don't bother to try to take them out earlier as I find it difficult (at best) to candle my quail eggs and their start to finish incubation time means there's little risk of an egg exploding due to rotting while in the incubator. The risk of dropping an egg while candling it is higher than the risk of one rotting and exploding.
My rate of success on hatching them is about 66%. Some of the hens may be too young, too old, too ugly or too mean (teasing) for the cock to mate with her. Seriously though, don't be overly alarmed if not all of the eggs you've incubated hatch.

 

[AJoy16]

I'm on day 7. This is my first hatch. I've read so many opinions and watched so many videos I feel overloaded. Some say the egg will burst, some say they dont. I'm turning them all by hand several times a day. When I candle them I see no veins at all but I'm seeing embryos. I'm scared none will hatch.

 

[Ebony Rose]

Due to the light & dark patches of most of my quail eggs, I've found it nearly impossible to see veining too. You can semi automate your egg 'turning' without opening your incubator by lifting one edge of the incubator up and placing a small object like a pencil under that edge. Several hours later, you can remove the pencil and place it under the incubator on the opposite side. This is typically sufficient movement of the egg to satisfy the need of turning the eggs. In addition to being easier, it will reduce the time needed to perform the turning and eliminate the wild temperature fluctuation that occurs when the incubator is open for more than a minute or two due to the time needed to candle or rotate eggs.
Surprisingly, less is more when it comes to hatching quail eggs. Less opening the incubator (less loss of heat and humidity), less fidgeting with the eggs (less chance of contaminating the eggs with bacteria) , and you'll see that once hatched that less handling of your chicks (less stress on them) will all improve their comfort and health.

 

[Floydie]

I've just candled mine on day 7. I have two I'm not sure on but the rest I can see veining, the air cell and even the embrio bobbing up and down . I candle from the top and use the torch on my phone.