Incubator/hatching related questions

[Fat Daddy]

Good Morning. Sounds like you're doing fine.... You likely have a few more by now. As to helping chicks hatch..... I have saved 100's of chicks that would not have hatched over the years. Most were shrink wrapped because I screwed them by opening the bator while they were pipping hard or zipping. If your chick has pipped and has just stopped, this is normal. they get tired and rest for hrs at a time, the membrane under the shell is the indicator I watch. This is what will dry out and trap the chick in the shell by restricting his movement.White its still ok, but when it starts to dry out and shrink it will turn yellow this is a bad sign. You have to know going in that by trying to help this chick you could easily kill it. If you mistake distress for just not going as fast and you feel it should, and open the even just the top of its shell before the veins are gone, chances of it making it are poor. Plan on about 25% of the chicks you help will die anyway.....Most just fail to thrive....

 

[Bsranch3]

Good morning! I have a few quail hatching questions. I have never hatched quail before but I am looking to try my first batch starting this weekend. How many days is it for Texas a&m quail babies? And what should my temp and humidity be at throughout the hatch?
Thanks for any and all info!

 

[Fat Daddy]

Good morning! I have a few quail hatching questions. I have never hatched quail before but I am looking to try my first batch starting this weekend. How many days is it for Texas a&m quail babies? And what should my temp and humidity be at throughout the hatch?
Thanks for any and all info!

Good Morning... Jumbo whites are like any other coturnix. 17- 18 days if your temp is right. If you have a still air bator your target temp should be 101. With a forced air model it should be 99.5. The difference is the fan. I run a humidity of 40-45% for incubation and then bump to 65-70% that last few days if I can get there..... sounds like you may enjoy reading thru this thread.... Good luck, Bill

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/102281/coturnix-quail-basics-information-and-pictures-galore

 

[Bsranch3]

Good Morning... Jumbo whites are like any other coturnix. 17- 18 days if your temp is right. If you have a still air bator your target temp should be 101. With a forced air model it should be 99.5. The difference is the fan. I run a humidity of 40-45% for incubation and then bump to 65-70% that last few days if I can get there..... sounds like you may enjoy reading thru this thread.... Good luck, Bill

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/102281/coturnix-quail-basics-information-and-pictures-galore

Thank you! I will, I wanna start them tomorrow so all info is good info! Thank you for pointing me in the right direction!

 

[dimi]

Good day, guys. So far I am up to 10 in the brooder. The one that was peeping for over 12 hours, I helped him a bit by breaking the top of the shell open but not fully. So, he got out and is now on the incubator floor. He is moving but curled up on his side. I don't think he will survive. See picture attached.

Today is day 18, what is the maximum do you go for?



The rest in the brooder look fine:

 

[TwoCrows]

Congrats on the 10 so far! As for the one you helped out. It is never good to help them out, even a tiny bit. Hatching is natures first test. It takes a lot of lung power and strength to bust out of the egg. And if they can't do it themselves, generally they aren't fit to survive. So do, some don't. So you are better off letting them be and not intervene, as sad as it is.

Lovely babies you have there!!

 

[TwoCrows]

Oh and I like to go at least 4 days past due date on eggs. Some chicks are late hatchers. Then I candle to see if any are viable. You can also do a float test to see if they are rocking at all.

 

[dimi]

Yeah, I went against my better judgement on that decision. I read that you shouldn't help them out...
Its still on its side and can't get up or be in upright position. It will probably die of starvation. What do you usually do for such chicks? Do you put them down yourself?

 

[TwoCrows]

Yes, I would put this little guy down if he can't get up. I am so sorry.

 

[Fat Daddy]

It don't look like he will make it... Like I said above, a good percent will die anyway... Some will live a week and just never feather.... To end a chick like this, I hold it in my hand with its head draped over my index finger facing down. Then I place the tip of my thumb at the base of it neck. Then press sharply.... It's neck will break and be over quickly.... All part of the chance you take by "helping"... The chick would have surly died without you trying.