First time trying to hatch...

[Acameron]

Hi everyone,

We decided to try and hatch our first batch of 12 eggs. We've watched a bunch of videos but are just not sure. We have an automatic Turner, digital temp and humidity, and count down clock.

I see posts on here about candeling to see if they are viable. When would we do this?

I am also confused on opening / not opening the incubator. Are we supposed to open them to candle?

Also, at what point do we take the tray out to allow them to hatch on the bottom so they don't get hurt?

Any other tips or information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Nabiki]

If you ask @Kiki she'll tell you to candle daily. ;-) I candle around day 7 and at lockdown on day 14. Lockdown is when you take the turner out.

Don't trust the temperature and humidity on the incubator. I have 3 incubators, and not one of them is right. Get 3 thermometers and calibrate them, get a reliable hygrometer.

I've had my best hatches by keeping humidity around 30%. When the eggs start to hatch, humidity goes up on its own.

 

[Acameron]

So we just tried to candle them and some clearly have dark spots (small but there) but we can't see any veins. Others the light goes all the way through with no dark spot. It's only day 4 for us.

We had stored the eggs in our cooler basement for a period of a few days to allow more eggs for us to try and hatch. We rotated them multiple times a day. Is that ok?

Also, if they are duds do you just throw them out or can they be composted?

Thanks,
Abby

 

[Nabiki]

Day 4 is a bit early to candle in my mind unless you really know what you're looking for. I'd keep them in there until day 7. If they're still clear at day 7, then you can throw them out or compost them if you like.

You don't want to turn the eggs before they start to develop (not until you put them in the incubator), so when they were in the basement you probably should have let them sit pointy side down. That lets the air cells settle into their proper place.

 

[Acameron]

Day 4 is a bit early to candle in my mind unless you really know what you're looking for. I'd keep them in there until day 7. If they're still clear at day 7, then you can throw them out or compost them if you like.

You don't want to turn the eggs before they start to develop (not until you put them in the incubator), so when they were in the basement you probably should have let them sit pointy side down. That lets the air cells settle into their proper place.

Oh no! We watched another video where they moved them. Guess we know for next time.

 

[Severne]

Yes, you candle on day 5-8 although you can candle any time, just don’t take too long

 

[JaeG]

You do need to tilt the eggs from side to side prior to setting if they are sitting for a few days - it just stops the yolk settling to one side and possibly adhering to the inside of the shell. https://www.brinsea.com/articles/advice/EggStorage.aspx

If they are eggs from my birds I candle every day just because it's fascinating.

This is an excellent article with photos to compare yours to:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/coturnix-quail-egg-candling-guide.71783/
Keep an eye on the air cells to ensure they are growing at the right rate. If your humidity is too low they will grow too quickly and the embryo will dry out and die. If your humidity is too high they will grow too slowly, not leaving enough space in the air cell for the chick to pip into and have enough oxygen until they externally pip. If your climate is humid then you might need a higher humidity, or if it's drier then less humidity. I'd start off around 45% and see how you go. Use an egg chart like this but for quail it would be days 5, 10 and 15 (when you lockdown):


Unless your eggs are externally pipping you can open the incubator as much as you like (as long as the eggs don't get too cold). Remove the eggs from the turners on day 15 at which stage you no longer need to turn them as the chicks will be getting in position to hatch. You might catch the eggs wriggling when the chick turns around in the egg, then they will be still until they actually hatch. Quail are surprisingly tiny and good at finding places to get stuck or fall through in an incubator. I hatch in a vented tray with shelf liner in it so that they cannot get anywhere they shouldn't. Shelf liner is also brilliant to line your brooder with until they have worked out the food and water, then you can use shavings or whatever you want to. Paper towels are too slippery and can cause babies to develop slipped tendons.

Teach them how to eat and drink by tapping the food and water. A few of there are brilliant as baby quail waterers as they cannot get into them to get wet:


Otherwise make sure you have pebbles or marbles in the water as a wet baby is a dead baby.

Good luck and let us know how you get on.