My button quail is peeping but not piping

[Eva Ry]

I heard a bit of peeping coming from the incubator but I still don’t see a pip. The chick has been silent for I while but I think I heard it this morning. I checked again and still no pip. I’m beginning to worry. When might it hatch and will it?

 

[Plip]

I haven't hatched button quail, so won't pretend to have any solid insights when it comes to that. But I wanted to offer some encouragement.

I think most of us have been there when whatever little guys we're hatching don't do things "by the book." It can be nerve wracking, wondering if everything has gone completely wrong or if it's just a little hiccup in the process. I find that when I've been diligent about doing everythingt right, it's usually just the hiccup. I hope that true for this case, and that others will be able to offer something more specific.

 

[Eva Ry]

thank you for the encouragement. It’s a day late so I really do hope it’s just a hiccup. Thank you

 

[JaeG]

If you can hear it then its likely it has externally pipped. I'd check that the pip isn't under the egg where you can't see it. I had one do that to me the other day and it must've been stuck as its pip was just getting bigger. Poor little thing was exhausted! Thankfully it's now fully recovered and zooming round with the others. I also had one that half unzipped then got stuck for some reason. If it does need help and it hasn't had the chance to rotate round then it may still be attached to the egg by the 'umbilical cord' and will just need a bit of drying off time away from the other chicks to detatch itself from the egg shell.

 

[Eva Ry]

Thanks for the advice. I checked but it’s not there. At this point I’m starting to think I’m crazy or there was just a bird outside. Either way if it doesn’t hatch in a few days I’m starting a new batch. But thank you anyway

 

[JaeG]

You could candle it to see if it's internally pipped. You'll see a little beak in the air cell.

 

[oldhen2345]

My button quail pipped but would not hatch. I kept watching, but nothing has happened. it has been over 24 hrs and I thought the chick was dead and took the egg out of the incubator. Well, it was alive. The membrane was completely dried out although there is humidity in the incubator. the chick wasn't stuck to much of the membrane- just a tiny dot on its back- which I left alone. After opening the membrane and gently peeling it back, the chick fell out and started kicking up a storm. After it dried, it keeps it's neck in the fetal position and doesn't open it's toes on the right foot all the way- it keeps falling on it's back and can't turn over. If it stays still, it can stay upright for awhile, but when it tries to turn it's head back toward the wing, it falls over. I have given it droplets of water on my finger, but it hasn't eaten - don't know how to do that with this bird. Any suggestions?