Float testing on lock down day

[tinkatwerp]

So today is lockdown day for my first batch of mailed coturnix quail eggs, and the suspense is killing me. I got these eggs off eBay, in the middle of summer, so I don't know if there will be any development at all. I literally haven't touched them since the day I put them in the turners, so I haven't candled them at all. I think they're too dark anyways. I would really like to float test them, just to know if I could be expecting any chicks. To be honest I haven't set my brooder up yet and I'm lazy enough I rather not if there aren't going to be chicks anyways. Would float testing harm he eggs at all? I've really been trying to handle these guys the least amount possible, and since I feel like them hatching is already a semi slim chance, I don't want to mess with my chances.

 

[tinkatwerp]

I compromised and floated 10 out of 42. All of them floated and 6 were rocking and rolling! Woot!

 

[James the Bald]

Tink, even though the egg shells are "dark", when you shine a light through it, you can easily tell if it is viable or not. An egg that allows light to shine completely through it is not fertile, and one that does not allow any light to pass through it is fertile.
I hope this helps in the future.
James

 

[tinkatwerp]

I tries to shine a light through them when I first unpacked them, but I couldn't get the light to go through the shell. I probably don't have a good enough flash light.

 

[Rashid100]

I did a float test on my quail eggs one day before lockdown. It does not harm the chick as long as the water is the right temp and you don't leave it in there for more than a minute. You can check out my float test video if u'd like

 

[tinkatwerp]

I was just worried about the water removing the bloom from the surface of the egg.

I have another question. I moved the eggs into lockdown at about 1 pm yesterday, and at about 4 pm a few started rocking and chirping. Today the rocking and chirping seems to have pretty well stopped, and there are no pips or cracks in any of the eggs. Is this ok? I've never really heard eggs cheep before and it seems odd to me that they have stopped.

 

[Rashid100]

The bloom is already gone by this time due to incubation so the egg can absorb moisture to ease the hatching.

Maybe they pipped internally and are resting? Hopefully they'll hatch soon

 

[tinkatwerp]

Ok that makes me feel better about the bloom.

Have you ever tried talking to eggs in the Bator? I read somewhere that if you talk to chickens while their in he egg they will talk back and possibly imprint on you. Would this work with quail do you think?

 

[Rashid100]

haha never heard of that. give it a shot

 

[tinkatwerp]

Well I tried talking to them last night, and the eggs started rocking again so I guess it at least woke them up if they were sleeping or something. No pips still