Hi,
This is my first time incubating eggs. They're Coturnix Quail shipped eggs. From 41 eggs I started with I'm now left with 19 developed eggs that I have just put into lockdown. The rest didn't develop or died at day 5-6. We're at day 15 right now.
It's the first time I do this, I started with zero knowledge. The thing is, I followed a guy's guide on YouTube and he said to don't worry about the humidity as long as it's above 55% so that's what I did. It has been raining nonstop since I put the eggs and the humidity on average id say it has been around 63% inside the incubator. But I didn't worry. A couple days ago I discovered that guy was totally wrong and humidity shouldn't be that high because the air sac doesn't develop enough, so the chick doesn't have space to move around for hatching and also may don't find enough oxygen after the first pip.
Last two days I left the eggs at 40% humidity to compensate a bit but today I was supposed to start lockdown so I did.
I can't find any clear photos online as of how the air sacs should be looking on day 14 for quail eggs.
I candled my eggs and the sizes vary
But more than half look too little to me, what do you think?
I pencil drew the air sacs so you can see.
Are they too small?
Is there anything I can do?
I have read a guide here about how to assist eggs and safety holes but I'm full of questions.
The guy in the guide said to candle the eggs daily since the airsac starts dipping. But if you're in lockdown, aren't you supposed to not to open the incubator, at least until most chicks have hatched?
I understand this is to prevent chicks from shrink wrap if the humidity drops. But can it drop so drastically by just opening for a few seconds? If I'm very quick I can open and take out an egg with the humidity not going below 58% or so. Is it ok to open and candle?
Can shrink wrap happen before the external pipping? Or I shouldn't worry about it until the external pipping starts?
Once it starts, is it ok to open the incubator real quick? Can just a couple minutes drop in humidity make the chicks shrink wrap?
I am specially worried about half of the eggs. I see the air sacs too small, but some have started dipping even tho their size. I am not sure how to monitor them if I am not supposed to open the incubator. Any ideas?
Also, I find it very confusing in the assistance guide how to know when to assist. They say if it's taking too long to go from internal pipping to external, or external to zipping, but I don't know how much is "too long" for quail eggs. My best guess right now is maybe do a safety hole if one day has passed after internal pipping without external. And maybe intervene too if more than a day has passed since external pipping and no zipping progress is shown. Are those times good?
And what about when should I intervene if zipping has started but not finished and there's no hatching? I really have no guidelines as to how much time means "it's taking too long".
Thanks so much for stopping by my post and I hope you can give me some answers.
I really don't want to let down those small air sac eggs. They deserve a chance. I feel a bit angry at the guy who gave such bad advice. But I thought it couldn't be that bad since his chicks seem to hatch. Also I found very different humidity recommendations all around the place. It was very confusing.
This is my first time incubating eggs. They're Coturnix Quail shipped eggs. From 41 eggs I started with I'm now left with 19 developed eggs that I have just put into lockdown. The rest didn't develop or died at day 5-6. We're at day 15 right now.
It's the first time I do this, I started with zero knowledge. The thing is, I followed a guy's guide on YouTube and he said to don't worry about the humidity as long as it's above 55% so that's what I did. It has been raining nonstop since I put the eggs and the humidity on average id say it has been around 63% inside the incubator. But I didn't worry. A couple days ago I discovered that guy was totally wrong and humidity shouldn't be that high because the air sac doesn't develop enough, so the chick doesn't have space to move around for hatching and also may don't find enough oxygen after the first pip.
Last two days I left the eggs at 40% humidity to compensate a bit but today I was supposed to start lockdown so I did.
I can't find any clear photos online as of how the air sacs should be looking on day 14 for quail eggs.
I candled my eggs and the sizes vary
But more than half look too little to me, what do you think?
I pencil drew the air sacs so you can see.
Are they too small?
Is there anything I can do?
I have read a guide here about how to assist eggs and safety holes but I'm full of questions.
The guy in the guide said to candle the eggs daily since the airsac starts dipping. But if you're in lockdown, aren't you supposed to not to open the incubator, at least until most chicks have hatched?
I understand this is to prevent chicks from shrink wrap if the humidity drops. But can it drop so drastically by just opening for a few seconds? If I'm very quick I can open and take out an egg with the humidity not going below 58% or so. Is it ok to open and candle?
Can shrink wrap happen before the external pipping? Or I shouldn't worry about it until the external pipping starts?
Once it starts, is it ok to open the incubator real quick? Can just a couple minutes drop in humidity make the chicks shrink wrap?
I am specially worried about half of the eggs. I see the air sacs too small, but some have started dipping even tho their size. I am not sure how to monitor them if I am not supposed to open the incubator. Any ideas?
Also, I find it very confusing in the assistance guide how to know when to assist. They say if it's taking too long to go from internal pipping to external, or external to zipping, but I don't know how much is "too long" for quail eggs. My best guess right now is maybe do a safety hole if one day has passed after internal pipping without external. And maybe intervene too if more than a day has passed since external pipping and no zipping progress is shown. Are those times good?
And what about when should I intervene if zipping has started but not finished and there's no hatching? I really have no guidelines as to how much time means "it's taking too long".
Thanks so much for stopping by my post and I hope you can give me some answers.
I really don't want to let down those small air sac eggs. They deserve a chance. I feel a bit angry at the guy who gave such bad advice. But I thought it couldn't be that bad since his chicks seem to hatch. Also I found very different humidity recommendations all around the place. It was very confusing.
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