Low hatch rate. What happened?

[TheHenThtRoared]

Can you tell me why we had such a low hatch rate for our coturnix quail???
Conditions in our incubator were practically perfect but only 7 out of 24 hatched, one came out injured and died and one is very feeble and crippled. When we candled before lockdown 17 contained fully formed chicks. That means 10 died shortly before hatching(3 of those had pipped)... Just seems a bit high.... Can you shed any light on what may have happened?

 

[cmobley]

What was the humidity kept at? What type incubator are you using? Only reason i ask about humidity is that it will build water pocket between shell and embryo sack and when chick pips the water rushes in and drowns it. Others may have more info but that's only thing i can guess right off.

 

[TheHenThtRoared]

Oh my gosh... That's horrifying! The first 14 days I kept it around 45% and the last 3 I kept it at 70% because that's what I was told! Is that too high? Enough to drown them? 1 of the chicks fully unzipped his shell and never attempted to get out. I used a hova bator

 

[cmobley]

Humidity sounds right to me thats where mine was i had 100% hatch with 35 eggs. I dunno what couldve caused this but theres alot of really good people on here that will help you get some answers.

 

[cmobley]

Quail chicks die just before hatching

Quail chicks die just before hatching

#1 of 97/22/13

mashal

Please help me
This is my second batch, and for the second time i find my coturnix quail chicks dead in their shells, it looks like they died during lockdown period with correct temperature and humidity.
Could it be that i dont have a fan in my hova bator 1612 incubator or what ????
Please advice me i am depressed its the 2nd time....

#2 of 97/22/13

GrandmaBird

did you open the vents in the incubator to allow more oxygen in? this is a common problem during lockdown. more air and higher humidity are needed then. sorry for your loss.

#3 of 97/22/13

mashal

I didnt open the vents (the instructions said open them at high altitudes only)
But i did open the incubator once daily, did that affect the high humidity and
can low humidity possibly kill all the chicks. The lovely baby one's 
Thanks for the reply

#4 of 97/22/13

mashal

I didnt open the vents (the instructions said open them at high altitudes only)
But i did open the incubator once daily, did that affect the high humidity and
can low humidity possibly kill all the chicks. The lovely baby one's 
Thanks for the reply

#5 of 97/22/13

buttonquailtx

opening the incubator during lockdown significantly lowers the humidity.  Make sure to not open the incubator at all from the first day of lockdown until the babies are out of their eggs and dry. If for any reason you have to open the incubator during this time, take a spray bottle with distilled water and lightly mist the inside walls of the incubator to bring the humidity back up quickly.  Make sure not to get the eggs wet and be very careful not to wet the thermostat or any electrical components.  But it's best not to open the lid at all during this time.  I keep a separate hatcher so I can incubate several different hatch dates at the same time.

 

If your incubator has a fan, then it should have a vent hole above the fan. This should give enough oxygen for the chicks.

#6 of 97/22/13

mashal

Thank u for the advice, i will try not to open it at all at lockdown.
But i dont have a fan, can this be another reason for them dying
Or its the humidity problem for sure ???

#7 of 97/22/13

buttonquailtx

In a still air incubator, I open all the vent plugs during lockdown.  Just keep an eye on humidity and if it drops, close one vent plug at a time.  Practice this early in the incubation process to see how well your incubator holds humidity without the vent plugs.  Fluctuation in humidity isn't as bad early on in the incubation process.

#8 of 97/22/13

mashal

Wow i am really shocked how humidity could be that
big of a problem killing my two batches , that is really
Sad for me.

#9 of 97/22/13

buttonquailtx

Humidity is the only way the eggs can regulate fluid levels inside the egg and chick. Too little and the chick dehydrates. Too much and the chick supersaturates and bloats, giving it less room for the air cell.  Low humidity also makes the chick stick to the shell during hatching.

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[TheHenThtRoared]

Your responses are both helpful!