Hatch day - pip or pop?

[als77]

Sorry guys, but I have to ask (I'm freeking out - first hatch ever, and with an incredible crappy incubator )

Quail are "supposed" to hatch on day 18 I believe, but anything from day 16 to day 21 is normal, but is it the actual pop that counts, or the pip?
I realize that it doesn't really matter, but I'm both curious and freaking out

Some rambling;
I put the eggs into lock-down yesterday (day 14) and this morning (or during the night) one of the eggs have pipped.
We're two hours away from day 15, but my incubator did have a major cold spot that I didn't uncover after I got my additional thermometers.

Some more rambling;
I managed to compensate for the crappyness of my incubator midways (puting my sweater on the lid, and NOT insulate the whole bater, gave 0.5C/0.9F difference inside the bator), but at lock-down yesterday that was impossible; The holes in grid where the eggs are supposed to rest on are waaay to big for quail (and chickens as well?) so I added some paper to avoid injuries after hatching, but that blocked the airflow and gave major temperature difference inside the incubator (8C/14.4F!) that I haven't been able to combat all the way. The closest thing I were able to do (after spending 5.5 hours from 7pm till 1.30am) was to use a paper-cloth-thingie that had more holes in it (reduced the difference to 4C/7.2F...), pluss to gather the eggs closer together in the more stable part of the incubator (which would increase sibling soccer, but that's the best I can do). I still have 1C/1.8F difference between the eggs (the fellow who pipped is at 37.9C/100.2F, the other end at 36.9C/98.4F).

Q: That is high - should I decrease the temperature overall (and let its siblings sit at even lower temperature) or leave be?

 

[als77]

Correction; it is between 37.9C/100.2F and 36.9C/98.4F.
Geez this incubator sucks!

 

[Quaicken108]

You’re right about the hatch days. It’s from when they hatch not pip! Also it’s normal for them to pip around now and not to hatch for some time so don’t worry it might even be the last to hatch. I’m not a complete expert, especially with incubating. I want to get better but for now I’ll refer you to some other people who are more experienced! @Nabiki @Quailobsessed @muddy75

 

[als77]

Don't worry?


(Sorry, I just had to I appreciate the feedback and the sentiment)

Thanks. I know it can take a long time to hatch, so I'll give him/her at least 24 hours till I start to worry (*more*)

 

[FloorCandy]

I find the bumpy shelf liner is great in the incubator, I have floor shaped pieces cut for both incubators. It is bumpy, rough and has holes throughout like netting. It keeps their feet from falling thru, and provides a rough surface to help spread toes and prevent splay.

 

[als77]

No progress whatsoever, neither for the pipped one, nor from any of the other eggs
The one that did pip, pipped between 24 and 31 hours ago.

PS. I haven't seen any movement in any of the eggs, including the one that pipped, at any stage. Nor have i heard any of them chirp, including the one that pipped, at any stage. Is that normal? (this doesn't necessarily mean that they haven't moved or chirped, just that I haven't noticed)

I did candle them before lock-down, but this is my first time so I was only looking for lightbulbs. Did see some airsacks on a few of them, and only darkness in others. Not sure how the one who pipped looked

 

[als77]

Noticed another egg with a pip today. I'm not sure, but I think it is a new pip.

No progress whatsoever on the first egg though. And still can't see or hear anything from any eggs. When is it officially ok to start freaking out? (it's been 30-38 hours from the first egg pipped)

 

[shrimpsilkies]

Opening the incubator while there are live pips releases the humidity they need to get the shell off. When the membrane dries out it can suffocate pipped chicks or make them stuck in the egg, both can lead to death. Whenever I really have to open the incubator (something gone wrong, super early chick) I stuff a damp paper towel in by the pips.
First egg has a decent chance of being dead. However I had left one pipped egg for dead, since nothing had moved in it for two whole days, and when I went to throw the last two unhatched eggs out that one started yelling at me! Definitely shrink wrapped by the membrane and I had to peel her out and she did fine, adult now (can be extremely touchy, do with tweezers but always expect assist hatches to fail). The newer pips might be more promising.

 

[als77]

Opening the incubator while there are live pips releases the humidity they need to get the shell off. When the membrane dries out it can suffocate pipped chicks or make them stuck in the egg, both can lead to death. Whenever I really have to open the incubator (something gone wrong, super early chick) I stuff a damp paper towel in by the pips.
First egg has a decent chance of being dead. However I had left one pipped egg for dead, since nothing had moved in it for two whole days, and when I went to throw the last two unhatched eggs out that one started yelling at me! Definitely shrink wrapped by the membrane and I had to peel her out and she did fine, adult now (can be extremely touchy, do with tweezers but always expect assist hatches to fail). The newer pips might be more promising.

Yes, I have heard about the warnings of opening the incubator during lock-down, so I have avoided that - although it is getting increasingly tempting with two pips and no further progress.

I find it strange that I haven't seen any movement, or heard any chirping, at any time from any of the eggs. Is that normal? It is still somewhat early though, day 16 started three hours ago (counting the first day as day 0) I played some hatching sounds from a youtube video for them, but no reaction

Still hope for the first pip then - slim, but some

 

[als77]

This (the bottom right one) is the second egg that "pipped" (well, got a crack).
Now, several hours later, a chunk of the shell has fallen of, but I can't see any hole.
Is it still pipped? (I *might* have seen to more eggs with cracks)

The membrane looks mainly white, so humidity is ok I hope (62-70%) [temperature a bit high here, but I have 1C/1.8F variation between the eggs since lockdown - this being the warmest spot)