Help! Quail eggs.

[danielb1990]

I got mine on ebay out the 48 i got around 10 hatched (most died but i think that was my fault for cheap basic incubator and first hatch mistakes like opening early)

 

[Ebony Rose]

I got mine on ebay out the 48 i got around 10 hatched (most died but i think that was my fault for cheap basic incubator and first hatch mistakes like opening early)

Shipping could have played a big part in that, as well as parentage of the eggs, and locking your eggs down (no turning eggs nor opening incubator) on the last few days really helps. Sorry to say, but I don't hold out much faith in ebay purchases, so your supplier may have had a lot to do with the poor hatch rate.
Too much humidity early on can be a problem too, as the air sac doesn't develop properly... but, in my opinion, the number one reason for failure to hatch (other than infertility), is over-handling, over-candling. Can't see much inside a quail egg anyhow, and their short short incubation time pretty much ensures that one isn't gonna explode before the good eggs hatch. I candle mid-way and toss the infertile or early quitters, and once more at lock-down.
My first hatch was completed with nothing more than a plastic tote & a 40watt light bulb, with "turning" several times daily. TURNING in quotes because I simply stuffed a screwdriver handle under one side of the box, then moved that to the other side of the box every several hours to lift one side of the box vs the other; turning was more like "rocking" the eggs, but it worked. My hatch rate wasn't great, as I said... but it worked. I set 12 eggs, and 5 hatched, into healthy, happy quail. I gave this flock to my neighbor and visit regularly. Turns out 3 were pharaoh colored hens & 2 are ranger colored (I still can't figure out by plumage males from females on rangers as they're only 4 weeks old), but there were absolutely no signs of dominance (or breeding) in their hutch (a bit early for breeding, they're still juveniles), so the hope is still out there that they have five hens. Should they indeed have five hens, I will gift them one more bird; a mature male when the time is right.
Quail are really quite sturdy in the egg and as chicks. Very forgiving and an excellent bird to learn to hatch with because of their resilience.

 

[danielb1990]

Shipping could have played a big part in that, as well as parentage of the eggs, and locking your eggs down (no turning eggs nor opening incubator) on the last few days really helps. Sorry to say, but I don't hold out much faith in ebay purchases, so your supplier may have had a lot to do with the poor hatch rate.
Too much humidity early on can be a problem too, as the air sac doesn't develop properly... but, in my opinion, the number one reason for failure to hatch (other than infertility), is over-handling, over-candling. Can't see much inside a quail egg anyhow, and their short short incubation time pretty much ensures that one isn't gonna explode before the good eggs hatch. I candle mid-way and toss the infertile or early quitters, and once more at lock-down.
My first hatch was completed with nothing more than a plastic tote & a 40watt light bulb, with "turning" several times daily. TURNING in quotes because I simply stuffed a screwdriver handle under one side of the box, then moved that to the other side of the box every several hours to lift one side of the box vs the other; turning was more like "rocking" the eggs, but it worked. My hatch rate wasn't great, as I said... but it worked. I set 12 eggs, and 5 hatched, into healthy, happy quail. I gave this flock to my neighbor and visit regularly. Turns out 3 were pharaoh colored hens & 2 are ranger colored (I still can't figure out by plumage males from females on rangers as they're only 4 weeks old), but there were absolutely no signs of dominance (or breeding) in their hutch (a bit early for breeding, they're still juveniles), so the hope is still out there that they have five hens. Should they indeed have five hens, I will gift them one more bird; a mature male when the time is right.
Quail are really quite sturdy in the egg and as chicks. Very forgiving and an excellent bird to learn to hatch with because of their resilience.

Mine was one them cheap tubs with turner inside and auto humidy/temp controller (around £30/$50) was first hatch so probally partly my errors and supplier but atleast some exp for next time