Just hatched but can't stand up!

[LuckyLouanne]

I am new to all of this. I am trying to hatch what I think are bobwhite quail eggs (they were given to me). One hatched today but it looks quite immature, wet, and it can't stand up on it's own after about 30 minutes. This is day 22. The humidity may be too high. I raised it thinking it would help them hatch. I took some water out. This one doesn't look fluffy like the ones in the online videos. Is something wrong?

 

[veggiecanner]

sounds normal, leave it in the incubator till tomarrow. He'll walk soon. by then if he isn't walking you can worry.
Do you have a hygrometer? What is your humidity?

 

[LuckyLouanne]

Thank you for your prompt response. I don't have a hygrometer but the water level in my "Little Giant" incubator was all the way full. I think he was getting wet. I put some cushy shelving paper (the kind recommended in many videos) over the wire grid. I also had the eggs in an egg crate (dozen container) and the carton looked a bit damp and discolored. I moved the eggs to a flat position. I hope this doesn't kill the chicks. My husband and I are in an excited state because I didn't think they would hatch.

 

[veggiecanner]

when you lift the lid a little and put your fingers in there does it feel just a little damp or very damp.
At this point it should feel very humid to help soften the shells. The hatching chicks add to the humidity by the way.
If you plan to incubate again you would do well to have a hygrometer. During the last few days humidity should be 65%-70%.
Good luck with your hatch.

 

[LuckyLouanne]

Thank you soooo much! I feel like a new mother being so nervous about the whole thing. I thought that I had killed them all but they seem to be doing fairly well and almost all of the eggs are hatched/hatching. You don't know how much your words helped me. I felt like I was in a panic when we noticed they were hatching. Thank you so so much!

 

[LuckyLouanne]

What happens if the humidity is too high? It is very damp inside the incubator. I am kicking myself for not getting a hygrometer. Is is possible to be too damp? the ambient humidity is about 100% with rainshowers all day. I seem to have lost all reasonable thought processes since they started hatching.

 

[veggiecanner]

From what I understand they can literly drown.
Open the incubator for a few minutes so the air can change.

 

[LuckyLouanne]

Thanks! I am heading to the tractor supply store to get a hygrometer and quail starter food! I greatly appreciate your help. )

 

[LuckyLouanne]

This morning 4 of the hatchlings died. Only one is alive and it looks like it is fading. I tried to feed it as it has been out of the shell for over 2 days now. I cried all morning. This must have been a bad batch because the person I got them from had only 3 out of 90 live.

 

[veggiecanner]

What are you feeding them?