Newest batch in an Improved Incubator

[little-beep]

.. I now have 20 button quail eggs in a newly purchased incubator which has a proper thermostat, fan, egg roller, and a humidity measuring function. That said, the breeder told me she's having problems with getting many viable eggs. I'll start candling the eggs in about 6 days (today is day 2) to see what may be going on (or not) ....
Anyway, thus begins my newest hopeful hatch

 

[nchls school]

Because of their heavy pigmentation, Button quail eggs are very hard to candle with any accuracy. Good luck. I'm hoping to get a few Button eggs in a couple weeks to hatch in my incubator.

 

[little-beep]

Because of their heavy pigmentation, Button quail eggs are very hard to candle with any accuracy. Good luck. I'm hoping to get a few Button eggs in a couple weeks to hatch in my incubator.

yeah I'm finding it impossible to see anything even at night with just the candler light

I think I also need to switch to using bottled water in the incubator for humidity since the tap water here is hard water and could cause calcium build up making it difficult for pipping & zipping

 

[nchls school]

yeah I'm finding it impossible to see anything even at night with just the candler light

I think I also need to switch to using bottled water in the incubator for humidity since the tap water here is hard water and could cause calcium build up making it difficult for pipping & zipping

Calcium build up will occur only where water evaporates; in the water container/reservoir and not on the eggs. Using hard water will not hurt the hatching process, but it does make keep the reservoir clean, harder.

 

[little-beep]

Candled my button eggs tonight -- 5 were totally clear so I removed those. One has what appears to be a blood-ring in it but it's hard to tell just yet. I can see the air sac prominently in all the other eggs with the other end looking 'full' --- I'm hoping this means there are CHICKS in those ones who are growing and filling up the space? ---

 

[nchls school]

Candled my button eggs tonight -- 5 were totally clear so I removed those. One has what appears to be a blood-ring in it but it's hard to tell just yet. I can see the air sac prominently in all the other eggs with the other end looking 'full' --- I'm hoping this means there are CHICKS in those ones who are growing and filling up the space? ---

If you can see a distinct air cell, then yes, you have quail chicks developing. How much longer to hatch?

 

[little-beep]

If you can see a distinct air cell, then yes, you have quail chicks developing. How much longer to hatch?

yes very distinct air cells! .. oh wow... it appears there may be a LOT of chicks (14 for sure if they're still alive in the egg) ... oh dear... .. selling them is going to be fun..

 

[nchls school]

yes very distinct air cells! .. oh wow... it appears there may be a LOT of chicks (14 for sure if they're still alive in the egg) ... oh dear... .. selling them is going to be fun..

While it sounds good, and is good, don't count your quail until they're hatched and grow to mature size. If these are your first button chicks read up on how to care for them now, so that when they hatch, you're prepared.

 

[little-beep]

While it sounds good, and is good, don't count your quail until they're hatched and grow to mature size. If these are your first button chicks read up on how to care for them now, so that when they hatch, you're prepared.

I've hatched them before but only got 1 out of each incubation (junk incubator) ..still have my very tame button pet. Thank for your advice though. This incubator seems to be doing a lot better job (hence the title of the thread)

 

[nchls school]

Don't forget (I have) to have a nonskid surface under the eggs at hatch. It's very upsetting to have quail hatch only to have leg problems because of a slippery incubator floor.