HELP! FIRST TIME INCUBATING DISASTER

[backyardhomestead]

I am incubating quail for the first time. I had 58 eggs in a forced air incubator with my chicken eggs. On day 13 I moved the quail eggs to a still air incubator for the lock down. I did have one temp spike when I accidentally moved the knob; it went up to 104. Its day 20 and none have hatched so I decided to open a hand full of eggs to see what was going on. 3 were never fertile and 4 had developed to the point where all that was needed was for the yolk to go up inside the baby, but they were dead. I am afraid I've probably lost all the quail. I'm not sure If the spike killed them or the fact that I moved them from a forced air to a still air incubator. I kept the temp at 99.5-100.00 and humidity at 40-45 for the first 13 days, then bumped the temp to 101 and humidity to 60-65. ANY AND ALL COMMENTS AND TIPS WOULD BE DEEPLY APPRECIATED. I HAVE 100 MORE EGGS THAT WILL BE HERE IN THE NEXT DAY OR SO.

 

[drewskimac]

Hello there and welcome to BYC! Well, it is very possible that your temperature spike killed them. 104 is considered pretty huge of a spike in the world of incubating. However, the impact it has on the chicks depends on how quickly you corrected your temperature. Are any of the eggs moving/pipped? Day 20 is pretty late to have none hatched yet (assuming we are talking about coturnix quail). I would say to watch and see if there are any pips or any shaking eggs and we’ll go from there.

 

[paneubert]

At what point was the spike? After you moved them to lockdown? Or earlier in the incubation? If earlier, then I would not think it killed them since they clearly developed. If later, then....maybe.

 

[backyardhomestead]

At what point was the spike? After you moved them to lockdown? Or earlier in the incubation? If earlier, then I would not think it killed them since they clearly developed. If later, then....maybe.

It was when I moved them into the still air incubator for lockdown. So day 13 or 14, The babies that I have opened up are fully developed, just needed the yolk to move inside of them. I didn't know if moving them to the still air from the forced air would kill them or the spike.

 

[backyardhomestead]

Hello there and welcome to BYC! Well, it is very possible that your temperature spike killed them. 104 is considered pretty huge of a spike in the world of incubating. However, the impact it has on the chicks depends on how quickly you corrected your temperature. Are any of the eggs moving/pipped? Day 20 is pretty late to have none hatched yet (assuming we are talking about coturnix quail). I would say to watch and see if there are any pips or any shaking eggs and we’ll go from there.

Hello and thank you! They are coturnix quail. I had gone home on my lunch to check on them so from 1-4 they were bumped up to 104. I'm afraid that is what killed them. None are moving/pipped; I think I may have lost them them all. I do have 100 more eggs on their way if you have any tips I would appreciate it. Every site I look on for tips says something different

 

[feedman77]

Do you have secondary known to be accurate thermometers and humidity meters or did you trust the incubators?

3 hours at 104 is high but not sure how fast the eggs would heat up as they don't heat as fast as the air around them does. But is a possibility.

I move from incubators to hatchers some still air. Doubt move killed them.

Home eggs or shipped. Shipped eggs can have bad hatch results.

What types of incubator?

Personally I low humidity incubate. Try to keep humidiy
20 to 35 then raise to 70 plus for lockdown and hatch. What I have found works best for me.

 

[aart]

Do you have secondary known to be accurate thermometers and humidity meters or did you trust the incubators?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...incubator-thermometers-and-hygrometers.73634/

 

[backyardhomestead]

Do you have secondary known to be accurate thermometers and humidity meters or did you trust the incubators?

3 hours at 104 is high but not sure how fast the eggs would heat up as they don't heat as fast as the air around them does. But is a possibility.

I move from incubators to hatchers some still air. Doubt move killed them.

Home eggs or shipped. Shipped eggs can have bad hatch results.

What types of incubator?

Personally I low humidity incubate. Try to keep humidiy
20 to 35 then raise to 70 plus for lockdown and hatch. What I have found works best for me.

I am using 2 farm innovation incubators. I was trusting the temp and humidity levels that are built in, but will be buying another one for both. I read on a few forums that they rarely read correctly. I did have my eggs shipped. Once I can get a set hatched I will be incubating the eggs they have

 

[backyardhomestead]

I am using 2 farm innovation incubators. I was trusting the temp and humidity levels that are built in, but will be buying another one for both. I read on a few forums that they rarely read correctly. I did have my eggs shipped. Once I can get a set hatched I will be incubating the eggs they have

And thank you for the advice

 

[backyardhomestead]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...incubator-thermometers-and-hygrometers.73634/

Thank you!