HELP - please :)

[mandisdad]

So, I ordered quail egg cartons b/c I want to try hatching my Bobwhite quail this way. HOwever the egg cartons that arrived are plastic.

Can I use plastic egg cartons?

Please - any and all advice is welcome.

Thanks in advance.

Robb

 

[DaisyQ12]

Hm I'm a bit confused. Are you planning on hatching them in the cartons while in an incubator? Or sending them to people to hatch in incubators? Sorry, I'm just not sure exactly what you mean. If you are going to place them in the cartons after collecting them and turn them before putting them into the incubator that should be fine but I'm not sure if putting the cartons in the incubator is okay if that's what you mean. If you mean shipping they'd probably be okay as long as there is cushioning and the eggs pores won't be all mushed by cotton or anything if you wrap em. Sorry again if I'm no help haha!

 

[dc3085]

Husky a lot members on here hatch eggs in cartons, it allows for easier turning when they don't have a turner and keeps the chicks from mad housing all the eggs when they hatch.

My only concern with them would be lack of airflow through the carton and potentially the egg sweating on the plastic. You will never really know until you try.

 

[mandisdad]

I want to hatch the eggs in the carton.

Thanks for the advice. I am going to try 1/2 of my eggs in the carton. I drilled large air holes in the bottom of the carton - so hopefully that'll help things. I will keep you all posted.

I candled all of the eggs today; I will post pictures later. Today is day 12. I have 30 eggs with embryos (my students got to see them moving - it was SO COOL!) and 10 duds (we cracked a few so I could show them they were like the eggs they had at home). Lock down is next week.

This is all so exciting. I have been doing this for 6 years now; but for some reason, I am super excited about this hatch!

 

[dc3085]

Be careful if your students are observing the chicks in class room. Bobwhites can be very aggressive in the brooder to the point of cannibalism, so make sure to brood them with a red light and give them adequate space per chick if they are crowded they'll fight, if they are hot they'll fight, if they are bored they'll fight, white lights make them fight....I think you see what I'm getting at.

 

[mandisdad]

Hi.

I am in Long Island and the Bobwhite used to be native birds. I am working with our wildlife conservation center and the goal is to repopulate. This is my 6th year and so far, so good. We had a bad hatch last year but otherwise all has been positive. I have the red light and have not had any issues with fighting - YET! Of course we only keep the chicks until they are five weeks old

Onwards and upwards

 

[DaisyQ12]

Husky a lot members on here hatch eggs in cartons, it allows for easier turning when they don't have a turner and keeps the chicks from mad housing all the eggs when they hatch. 

My only concern with them would be lack of airflow through the carton and potentially the egg sweating on the plastic. You will never really know until you try. 

Oh really? I didn't know that but that's helpful to know, thanks! The hatch rate doesn't go down at all for sure? I wish I would've known that!