It's day 19 and things are starting to happen!!! - UPDATE WITH PICS!!!

[Sharona]

This bunch is my first set of button quail eggs and try as I might I couldn't see anything when I candled. Last week I had a funky smell in the bator and through the "smell" techinique found that egg. Saturday I had one cracked (my fault) and opened it - progression seemed ok. The temps were steady until I removed the turner but stabilized within 12 hours - never going above 101 or below 98. The 101 degree was no more than 4 hours. I had a little trouble with the humidity the first few days - I couldn't get it above 50% but it finally stabilized.

Since this is day 16 should I be worried yet? The eggs went into the bator at 1:30 pm on July 10th so techinically I'm an hour overdue right now.

Am I worrying too soon?

There is one egg that looks like a tiny part of the shell has been chipped off (that's new today) but looks like it was done from the outside - could a chick have done that without breaking deeper?

No sound or movement but I've never dealt with eggs this tiny before.

 

[Sharona]

Ok, I reread my post above!

I've decided not to "STREAK" home - I'll be leaving my clothes on for the trip! I may be overexcited but not that much!!

 

[Motherhenandflock]

Oh! I just love your new babies! That pic of the baby looking up into the camera is precious!

 

[Chellester]

Motherhenandflock, thank you!

I'll post more pics as soon as I get a chance.

Sharona, I'm going to ask you a stupid question: Are you positively sure these are button quail? Or that they are pure button quail? Button quail take 16 days, but I'm reading that other types of quail can take 21-23 days to hatch.

Even if you're sure they're buttons, they are probably just taking their sweet time to say hello to the world! I'll keep hoping for you!!!

 

[Sharona]

Not a stupid question - I think they are. I ordered the eggs from Garrie Landry & he's a breeder. The eggs do vary in size and color ALOT. I'm completely new to button's so the skye's the limit on this.

 

[Chellester]

You might want to drop him an email and ask him what to expect as far as hatching time... maybe this particular variety takes longer than usual.

 

[skeeter9]

Congrats on the hatch, Michelle!!!! How are the little cuties doing?

Lori

 

[Chellester]

They are all doing great!

I moved the 4 that hatched yesterday into the brooder. They are so cute now that they are all puffed out!!! I was so busy today I didn't get a chance to take more pics, but I'll be sure to tomorrow and post them.

The other 2 that just pipped yesterday were not getting anywhere today... since they had started early (today is day 21) I wasn't going to intervene, but then one started doing that gasping thing that animals sometimes to when they're getting ready to die, so I knew I had to do something quick.

I followed the instructions I found here in this forum, and I managed to get both of them out without hurting them. And I'm glad I did- even though I had the humidity way up, they were stuck to the membrane, and when I got the first one out, its head was really stuck to it's wing, so I know there was no way they would have made it if I left them alone.

The one that was gasping was touch and go for the whole day, but seems to be doing a lot better tonight. The other one is acting just like all the others that didn't need any help. They're both still in the incubator; I'll move them to the brooder with the others tomorrow.

I plan on writing my whole experience with my first hatch and posting it here as a "pay it forward" thank you to everyone on this board, so that newbies can learn from my experiences like I have learned from the great people here.

Well, it's been a long day, so I'm going to hit the sack. Goodnight and "see" you all tomorrow!

 

[Chellester]

Sharona, what's the news on the quail eggs?

 

[Chellester]

Here's more pics as promised! They're about 2 days old now. The ones that still look like they're wet are the ones I had to assist hatching. They're not actually wet, just still have a lot of the sticky stuff on them from being in the egg too long. Note that one of them still has a piece of membrane stuck to its back.