Hatching quail eggs

[Sara White]

All I have is that probe thermometer. Not sure how accurate they are. I just put it in and laid it on top of the eggs

 

[Sara White]

Not sure how to lower the humidity, can I just let it lower on its own gradually?

 

[Pyxis]

All I have is that probe thermometer. Not sure how accurate they are. I just put it in and laid it on top of the eggs

Those are fairly accurate, so that's probably fine. I use those myself. I usually calibrate them with the ice water method to see how accurate they are

 

[JaeG]

As your humidity is not too high I'd leave it and, as your eggs will be easy to candle you can keep an eye on the size of their air cells. There are charts if you search on Google images and a chicken egg one is fine to compare it to.

 

[Sara White]

Ok and 1 more question. The guy I bought the eggs from sold me 4 of his baby quails. They were born 7-6. Is this light ok or should I use a red one. Temps under is with the probe thermometer read around 92-94

 

[JaeG]

I'd say they'd be fine - if they are huddled together then it means they are a bit cold, but if they seem perfectly happy and busy (when they aren't sleeping) they are comfortable with that temperature. I've used white lights and never had a problem with pecking (which is why some people suggest a red heatlamp).

Your little dog is very cute by the way! And watch out - these birds are addictive!

 

[Sara White]

Ok and 1 more question. The guy I bought the eggs from sold me 4 of his baby quails. They were born 7-6. Is this light ok or should I use a red one. Temps under is with the probe thermometer read around 92-94

Goodness, that temperature is way too high. That's half a degree off from 104, which is the temperate at which eggs die if they heat up to it inside.

If you have a still air, the temp should be 101.5 measured at the top of the egg. Forced air, 99.5 measured anywhere.

For turning, at least three times a day, more is better, and always an odd number.

ok this is the temp this morning after it was left alone all night. So there is a difference as u can see. I soaked some of the water out as the humidity was at 56. What's your thoughts?

 

[Sara White]

Should I raise or lower it or just leave it be?

 

[JaeG]

I've never hatched bobwhite quail (if someone says they are hatching quail eggs its generally Japanese quail) and I've just looked them up and they have a longer incubation - 23-24 days. It looks like they benefit from a higher humidity and the sites I looked at said 50-55% for days 1-19 then raise it to 65-70% for days 20-hatch.

Just keep an eye on their air cells and trace each check onto the egg (or use a few select eggs to sample the group, seeing as you have quite a few, chosen from different areas of the incubator). Checks are usually done at 7 days, 14 days and just before 'lockdown' (days 20-hatch).

Get the humidity up on day 20 then try to not open the incubator at all as any drop in humidity will affect any chick that has externally pipped, potentially drying out the egg membrane, making it too tough for the chick to break out of.

 

[Sara White]

I just dumped most of the water out lol. Ill reput water in. Also I have no idea what u r talking about when u say to check their air cells