Heat Plate vs. Heat Lamp

[harriamelia]

I use a Brinsea brooder plate. For quail, and for my small bantams, I add some height under it by putting a wash cloth under the puppy pad, with another one folded across the middle. The wash cloth fits right between the legs of the plate. The base one gives them a slight incline to climb up, the second one folded gets them closer to the plate. After about a week, I remove the folded one and leave the flat one. Never had any problem doing it this way.

Oh, I also add an old sock, stuffed with toilet paper, with a knot tied in the end, kinda smashed, not flat, but not huge round. (who doesn't have single socks to spare? lol) and I lay it under the plate. Smaller ones will even climb on it, some will huddle beside it.

Watch their activity and let them show you if they are too warm or too cold.

Best of luck with your hatch!! Please post some pics when they are out and about!

Thankyou! Thats a really good idea and I will be trying it. And I will for sure post some pictures when they hatch

 

[harriamelia]

Just a quick question:

Two of my eggs have started moving (and I am sooo excited), but I am only on day 13 of incubation. Is it normal for them to start getting into position this early and should I stop turning the eggs I see moving now? And do I need to put them into lockdown earlier and if I do will this harm the other eggs? (okay, so questions haha!)

Does anyone know what I should do about this??

 

[WVduckchick]

Does anyone know what I should do about this??

13 is a bit early for them to be moving around much, but they could be getting into position. Has your temperature been on the high side? Have the air cells grown good size or are they still small?

At this point, they are definitely far enough along that you can stop turning. I'd candle and see if any air cells are drawn down, and if you want to bump humidity up now, it should be fine.

 

[harriamelia]

13 is a bit early for them to be moving around much, but they could be getting into position. Has your temperature been on the high side? Have the air cells grown good size or are they still small?

At this point, they are definitely far enough along that you can stop turning. I'd candle and see if any air cells are drawn down, and if you want to bump humidity up now, it should be fine.

The temperature has been at a steady 37.5 degress celcius (99.5 fahrenheit) with no large spikes above or bellow that. The problem is that I have not been able to candle them because the candler I bought, which says it is for Quail, does not shine through the shell at all (safe to say the last 13 days have been torture not knowing what is going on in there). I have read that some people actually lockdown on day 14, should I do that instead of waiting until day 15 like I had planned? I could just stop turning the eggs I have seen moving? Or do I need to go into lockdown now?

 

[WVduckchick]

Have you tried candling with a cell phone light? They are usually nice and bright. And although I have had trouble with some of the shells, I was still able to see through most, at least enough to tell if they were fully dark with growth, or clear with no growth.
I use a mini-mag flashlight with a bit of craft foam taped around the top, with a hole cut in it.
I'd want to look at the air cells at least, to decide if its too early to lockdown or not.

 

[Erkenstein]

For lockdown candling, you don't need to be able to see any detail. If the egg is dark, there is a chick inside; if it is green/yellow, it should be removed. You should be able to see the air cell, but even if not there's not a whole lot more you can do about the air cell at this point without causing other issues.

 

[harriamelia]

Thankyou! I will try candling again tonight.

 

[harriamelia]

Update: 3 out of 12 have hatched so far (its day 18 today) and I actually managed to see all 3 hatch! They have been named after the song/artist playing on the radio at the time they hatched (my brother's idea). There is Fernando (named for the Abba song), Amy (named after Amy Winehouse) and Bandit (for Clean Bandit).

Finger crossed more hatch Thankyou everyone for your advise and I will see how the heat plate does tonight

 

[harriamelia]

Update No.2: 3 more have hatched, so I am up to 50% hatch rate so far. These 3 have been named Jupiter, Bea and Magic, and 2 more have pipped, so here's hoping for 2 more before the end of today

 

[Sapphire22]

Just a quick question:

Two of my eggs have started moving (and I am sooo excited), but I am only on day 13 of incubation. Is it normal for them to start getting into position this early and should I stop turning the eggs I see moving now? And do I need to put them into lockdown earlier and if I do will this harm the other eggs? (okay, so questions haha!)

I am also on my first batch of quail eggs (day16) and have also got a plate brooder it's from comfort chicks I can lower the legs to really low but also never seen a baby quail other than on youtube! so unsure how low to go.... will they instinctively go under it?
Now worrying that will need a heat lamp. my brooder box is indoors at the moment and The south of England is having a heat wave so the temperature outside the box is high and no draughts but now really anxious!! Not sure what to do for the best.......eakkk