incubation question, wrong temp

[tinyomelette]

Sorry for this total noob question but I'm starting to get really antsy. I have a small batch of eggs in the incubator, it's day 18 and nothing had pipped, squeaked or moved so I tried the temperature on the bottom with a different thermometer than the one that came with the incubator (without opening of course). Turns out I've been keeping the eggs too cool, about 36 degrees centigrade I wish I didn't trust the included thermometer from the start... should I discard this batch entirely or is there still a chance? And should I raise the temp at this point or just leave it? I candled the eggs several times before lockdown and there was definitely development in the ones I could see through.

 

[lena_]

Sorry for this total noob question but I'm starting to get really antsy. I have a small batch of eggs in the incubator, it's day 18 and nothing had pipped, squeaked or moved so I tried the temperature on the bottom with a different thermometer than the one that came with the incubator (without opening of course). Turns out I've been keeping the eggs too cool, about 36 degrees centigrade I wish I didn't trust the included thermometer from the start... should I discard this batch entirely or is there still a chance? And should I raise the temp at this point or just leave it? I candled the eggs several times before lockdown and there was definitely development in the ones I could see through.

Quails I am assuming? Don't discard them. I wait until day 20/21 and then do an eggtopsy on any that didn't hatch. Do raise the temp, you might as well. If there was development then you may still get some chicks.

 

[ChickNanny13]

Your temp is too low, I searched the forums for Incubating Quail, the temp should be 99.5*F = 37.5 C Humidty 45% which is the most crucial They hatch around day 18

I don't know quails but with chickens it's 21 days but when the temp are too low, it takes a few days longer. I would give your eggs more time, research & hope someone that knows pipes in soon. Good luck

@Pyxis @WVduckchick

 

[007Sean]

At that temp, they will take longer to hatch, they will also be weak when they hatch, so be prepared to lose some.
This is the reason to have 2 or more thermometers that have been calibrated against a laboratory grade thermometer.
Never trust the thermometer that comes with the incubator.

 

[ChickNanny13]

Maybe some vitamins & electrolytes would help? Get the brooder up to temp

 

[tinyomelette]

Thanks for the answers! I've raised the temperature now and I'll wait a few more days. Next time I'll use the calibrated thermometer right from the start, the one that came with isn't even graded so I should have known it was probably a piece of

 

[007Sean]

I don't raise/hatch chickens anymore but I do raise and hatch lots of pheasants. I've found that for weak chicks, that if I can get some full strength Nutra-Drench in them, they have an exponential chance of surviving.
You can get Nutra-Drench at TSC and other feed & seed stores. HTH

 

[lazy gardener]

Before incubating again, read "hatching eggs 101" in the learning center. No matter how much you pay for a thermometer, it may not be accurate unless you know it to be so by calibrating it. I use a good medical grade thermometer (both digital and mercury) and calibrate all others to those at 100* in a cup of water. Never trust the thermometer that comes with your bator, whether it's built in or not.

 

[tinyomelette]

Update: it's day 20 and they're finally hatching! All eggs except one have zipped and the chicks that have come out so far seem perfectly fine. Yay!

 

[ChickNanny13]

We'd love to see pictures So glad your hatch did well