incubating my first eggs ever..button quail

[sandie0067]

It is day 16 of my button quail, temps have been good and humidity is 70 for lockdown, but no movement yet. I'm the nervous new mom and hoping nothing is wrong. When should I start to worry ( even though I already am)? I know shipped eggs are a risk, and no luck with candling them, but out of 18 eggs I hope to get a few, right? Guess I am just looking for words of encouragement...thanks for listening to a nervous nelly.

 

[subhanalah]

I'm praying for your little chickies! I've heard mixed reviews with shipped quail eggs. Sometimes good, sometimes nothing. Hoping it works out well for you!

 

[ozexpat]

It is day 16 of my button quail, temps have been good and humidity is 70 for lockdown, but no movement yet. I'm the nervous new mom and hoping nothing is wrong. When should I start to worry ( even though I already am)? I know shipped eggs are a risk, and no luck with candling them, but out of 18 eggs I hope to get a few, right? Guess I am just looking for words of encouragement...thanks for listening to a nervous nelly.

hi

i feel you anxiety

What sort of incubator are you using?
What were your temps like?
Is your incubator fan forced?
Where did you get the thermometer you used to hatch?


I have not hatched shipped button quail but many many cotournix

typically when they hatch, its like popcorn. Sudden and fast.

if you dont have pips, you may open the bator and put several egs to your ear and listen for chirping

good luck

 

[sandie0067]

I am using my friend's Little Giant incubator - have 2 thermometers plus her digital and the temps have been steady at 100F. I had the humidity around 55 and at lockdown on day 14 I raised the humidity to 70%. I marked my eggs and hand turned them 3X daily making sure I did not roll in the same direction. The incubator is a still air and not my choice but had to borrow from my friend since my Brinsea Oct 20 advance with egg turner had not arrived yet. Thankfully I received the Brinsea and had it up and running a few days before my Blue Partridge Brahma eggs arrived.

I'm hoping for at least some Buttons to hatch, a few eggs seem very light and they roll like crazy weebles staying on their 'tips' -- so I think they dried out? the others all feel heavy but cannot see inside them when I candled.

being nervous I just want to open one up and see if anything developed, but then I think, "ok, if I do this it could have been fine but the chick dies because I opened it. and then I start thinking " what if they need help and die because I didn't crack them open." AAARRRGH -- the wait is such a killer. today is Day 17, still no movement on any eggs or peeping.

Anyone have a magic hatching wand that I can borrow? LOL

 

[ozexpat]

I am using my friend's Little Giant incubator - have 2 thermometers plus her digital and the temps have been steady at 100F. I had the humidity around 55 and at lockdown on day 14 I raised the humidity to 70%. I marked my eggs and hand turned them 3X daily making sure I did not roll in the same direction. The incubator is a still air and not my choice but had to borrow from my friend since my Brinsea Oct 20 advance with egg turner had not arrived yet. Thankfully I received the Brinsea and had it up and running a few days before my Blue Partridge Brahma eggs arrived.

I'm hoping for at least some Buttons to hatch, a few eggs seem very light and they roll like crazy weebles staying on their 'tips' -- so I think they dried out? the others all feel heavy but cannot see inside them when I candled.

being nervous I just want to open one up and see if anything developed, but then I think, "ok, if I do this it could have been fine but the chick dies because I opened it. and then I start thinking " what if they need help and die because I didn't crack them open." AAARRRGH -- the wait is such a killer. today is Day 17, still no movement on any eggs or peeping.

Anyone have a magic hatching wand that I can borrow? LOL

despite what the instructions say, incubating in a styro at 55% is normally way to high. you end up with late death due to inabilty to manouver. the chicks are large and congested

there is an article in my sig called hatching 101. its a wealth of info

 

[sandie0067]

I read your Hatching 101, great info on so much to know. I just floated eggs and after they settled most were rocking and rolling so I hope this is a good sign of live chicks. Did I float too soon? There are no pip holes as of yet, and the water temp was 100 ( as recommended). Fingers crossed for hatching.

 

[ozexpat]

I read your Hatching 101, great info on so much to know. I just floated eggs and after they settled most were rocking and rolling so I hope this is a good sign of live chicks. Did I float too soon? There are no pip holes as of yet, and the water temp was 100 ( as recommended). Fingers crossed for hatching.

its sally sunshines article and its wonderful.

your temps may be a little low if the chicks are viable.

hang in there