Is This a Pip?

[Nabiki]

I'll try to find something. Humidity is at 30-35, which I've been told is okay for Gambel quail. Temp is at 99. @Nabiki putting something under the paper towels will probably move the eggs, and I know that isn't something you're supposed to do because it messes up the position of the egg. Will it cause other problems or do I just have to be really careful?

They're actually pretty resilient to being moved around. Once the first chick hatches it will start wandering around and knocking the other eggs around.

 

[mdees88]

To save a lot of reading for anyone who missed it, the question is.....
Humidity has been 30-35% since day one for Gambel quail and is still 30-35% in lockdown with a pip already. Should the humidity be raised to 60-70%?

Actually humidity has been up and down since day one. I'd wait till it went down to 30% before adding water, which could sometimes get up to 70-75%. It went down a lot after opening the incubator to turn the eggs so it would take a couple days until I needed to add some water again.

Okay but it's been 30-35% throughout lockdown right?

Yes.

@Kiki @Nabiki @JaeG @007Sean @R2elk

Humidity has been 30-35% throughout lockdown and the OP was wondering if it needs to be raised. I know Gambles are not coturnix or bobs but surely the humidity still needs to be raised to 60+% during lockdown to prevent shrink wrapping right?

The egg in question pipped about 23 hours ago and hasn't zipped while the humidity has been kept in the low to mid 30's.

Considering how low the humidity has been during lockdown I would recommend an assisted hatch for the pipped egg. But would really like to hear others opinions.....

Any comments on this?

 

[maxride14]

@Kiki @Nabiki @JaeG @007Sean @R2elk

Humidity has been 30-35% throughout lockdown and the OP was wondering if it needs to be raised. I know Gambles are not coturnix or bobs but surely the humidity still needs to be raised to 60+% during lockdown to prevent shrink wrapping. The egg in question pipped about 23 hours ago and hasn't zipped while the humidity has been kept in the low to mid 30's.

Considering how low the humidity has been I would recommend an assisted hatch for the pipped egg. But would really like to hear others opinions.....

Any comments on this?

I added a bit of water and some tupperware lids to close the gaps. Humidity dropped about 5% so I'm waiting for it to go back up a little before putting a piece of paper towel on top. I just saw something move in the little hole, which is bigger now than before.

 

[Kiki]

Do you have a dark room in your house right now?

 

[maxride14]

Do you have a dark room in your house right now?

Yes. I know the glare makes it look almost in direct sunlight but it's just the glass reflecting at the angle I took the pic. It's pretty dim inside the incubator. I don't think I can move it, so could I put a dark towel or a thick blanket over the front?

 

[Kiki]

I have never hatched California Quail eggs before...
I have a successfully hatched out coturnix at 35%. I don't think it would hurt to raise the humidity a little.


I forget...Do you have at least one calibrated thermometer in your incubator?
Has your humidity gauge been salt tested?

 

[Kiki]

Yes. I know the glare makes it look almost in direct sunlight but it's just the glass reflecting at the angle I took the pic. It's pretty dim inside the incubator. I don't think I can move it, so could I put a dark towel or a thick blanket over the front?

No...what I want you to do is take the egg to a dark room and candle it and see if the chick is still alive.

 

[maxride14]

I have never hatched California Quail eggs before...
I have a successfully hatched out coturnix at 35%. I don't think it would hurt to raise the humidity a little.


I forget...Do you have at least one calibrated thermometer in your incubator?
Has your humidity gauge been salt tested?

No...what I want you to do is take the egg to a dark room and candle it and see if the chick is still alive.

The thermometer is calibrated, but I've never tested the humidity gauge. I thought I wasn't supposed to candle? I thought I saw it move, and the hole seems bigger now than before.

 

[Kiki]

It just made an external pip last night, right?

I'd leave it alone...it still has time to hatch on its own.
I mean I would candle it just to see what's going on but I would not help it out.

 

[Kiki]

The thermometer is calibrated, but I've never tested the humidity gauge. I thought I wasn't supposed to candle? I thought I saw it move, and the hole seems bigger now than before.

I candle 50 times during lockdown.

I see no reason why you couldn't candle it quickly and carefully and steadily just to ease your mind.