Hatching Newbie

[PajamaMama21]

Hatching newbie here... please give me your best advice for a first-timer! I know I gotta set up the incubator a day or two in advance. It's soooo confusing with the humidity... I bought a device to measure the temp and humidity inside the incubator. The eggs are arriving tomorrow or Saturday!! What else do I need to know?

 

[FeatherTay]

Make sure you’re turning them until day 15. Humidity should be 35% or so days 1-15 and can be turnt up to 40% for hatch day. Wouldn’t go more than that. Candle at day 7,10,15. That way you can determine the fertile, non-fertile, and dead and non dead eggs.

 

[007Sean]

Hatching newbie here... please give me your best advice for a first-timer! I know I gotta set up the incubator a day or two in advance. It's soooo confusing with the humidity... I bought a device to measure the temp and humidity inside the incubator. The eggs are arriving tomorrow or Saturday!! What else do I need to know?

1. What species of quail are you going to hatch?

2. What brand is your incubator? Is it 'still air' or 'forced air'? This will determine the correct temp to set the incubator.

3. You will want several calibrated and accurate thermometers and hygrometers. Do not relie on the instruments temperature or humidity sensors. They are notoriously inaccurate. Even in forced air incubators you will have hot and cooler spots within the incubator. I place a thermometer in each corner and in the middle, to see how the temp varies in those locations.

4. Incubator needs to be setup in a climate controlled setting, around 72°F to 78°F not near windows or AC vents.

5. Best to let the incubator run for a week before setting eggs but with only two days you should be able to get it dialed in....plug it in, turn it on, wait 2 to 4 hours to stabilize, then if adjustments need to be made, do so, then let it stabilize again before making another adjustment. Depending on your location, or the amount of ambient humidity is in the air will determine the amount of water to be added if any to the incubator to obtain the correct %Rh.

5. Depending on the temperature at your location, if it is hot, set the eggs immediately after unboxing them, chances are they are already started developing, letting them settle at room temp will kill the developing embryos. You can place them in the incubator with the turner turned off or if hand turning, place them in an egg carton, pointed end down, fat side of egg up. They can rest/settle this way for 24 to 48 hour without turning them.

I'm probably forgetting something...just ask more questions, I'll be happy to answer them for you!

Good luck! and Happy hatching.

 

[Nabiki]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/coturnix-incubation-tips.76184/