First hatch coturnix. questions and help.

[calihawker]

Hi! My first batch of coturnix chicks is about to hatch. I had one little problem and I just wanted to make sure I have everything ready. Friday was day 14 in the hovabator. Everything went as good as can be expected with temps and humidity. I took the eggs off of the turning racks and I was told to expect a couple early hatchers and sure enough last night I got one. I was told to take it out after 18-24 hours and wait for the main hatch. I took it out and put it in the broader and it was dead a couple hours later.
My brooder is 24x48 but sectioned off for the first week or two. A 250 watt heat lamp is hung approx 18 inches from the cage floor and is controlled with a thermosat. 95 degrees is maintained under the lamp and it stays about 80 degrees in the farthest corner. The floor is lined with soft paper towels and crumbled chick starter is scattered on the bottom and in the feeders.
So am I ready for these chicks to hatch? Should I have left that chick in the bator for 3 days or more?
Thanks a lot for your help. I've learned a lot reading here

Steve

 

[Fat Daddy]

Pull quail chicks out of the bator as soon as there dry. I would'nt let quail chicks stay in bator more than 8 or 9 hrs. Need to get them to water and feed as soon as you can.

I would shoot for a spot of 100 degs in my brooder.

But bottom line, some chicks just die... I expect a few to die out of every group. Bill

 

[JJMR794]

Quote:
X2... VERY WELL PUT BILL

 

[calihawker]

Thanks for the replies.

I'm really excited and I was kinda bummed about the first one. I know it won't be the last.

So if they start hatching tonight, whatever hatched after 8 hrs pull them out and wait for another batch or are they all gonna hatch I'm that time frame?
I'll turn the broader up to100.

 

[Fat Daddy]

Pull chicks as they dry...I try to open the hatcher only every couple hrs or so...

It may be one or ten, mine usually hatch in "batches"... three or four at a time, over a span of 24 to 36 hrs... Bill

 

[calihawker]

Thanks Bill, they're hatching right now.

 

[ThaJuicyJuice]

Other than echo what the others have said, I would suggest starting with a smaller brooder. They move very slowly for the first day or so and may have found it difficult to get to the heat source, unless the 250w lamp you have radiates the entire brooder. Still, thermal layers form naturally, unless some form of air circulation is applied. Good Luck.

 

[Fat Daddy]

Quote:
Keep us posted... Pix dont hurt either...

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

deleted

 

[calihawker]

They're popping out of the eggs like crazy! The 2 that hatched last night are in the brooder and it looks like they're doing good. It's section off to 24x24 right now and the thermosat keeps the temp under the lamp between 98 and 100 degrees.

What's with the yellow one? All of them are like little bumble bees except one bright yellow one.

ill get some pics later today.

Thanks again!

Steve