None Survived ;(

[ElizabethChau]

I incubated 8 button quail eggs. I candled them just before putting them in.... Hey were all fertile. I turned them every three hours day and night, *cries* I don't understand why NONE of them fully developed!? I opened them to see, and they were all developed to the point where there were two black dots for eyes and a little worm-like body.... But that's where they all stopped ((
WHY?????? I just don't understand. The temp is kept at 99-102 at most. Humidity was never a huge concern to me as these are desert birds! But humidity always ranged between 22 and 32. I managed to raise it to 30-48 the last couple days of incubation.

I'm so sad that none of the babies made it!
(

 

[fried green eggs]

Were they shipped eggs or home-grown local?

 

[ElizabethChau]

My own quail laid them

 

[TwoCrows]

Sounds like a ventilation problem. Chicks that get that far and stop developing, the cause is they have run out of air. 22% is a bit low for humidity as well. Make sure all the vents to the outside of the bator are open, and up the humidity level to about 45%.

 

[ElizabethChau]

I made my own bator with a card board box, it's very difficult to get and keep the humity up to 45. Not even a large width dish full of water would raise it above 38! I had to keep spraying the inside walls with a spray bottle via the holes on the box.
I placed ventilation holes all over the box, Although they are all on the upper half of the sides and the top of the lid. Should I make ventilation holes lower down on the box?

 

[fried green eggs]

More ventilation might help lower on the side and cover a few up higher. Can you raise the humidity in the room the incubator is in? A small bathroom with a humidifier?

 

[Peacerose]

I'm so sorry, Elizabeth! It's disappointing to lose a whole batch of eggs.

I've seen some homemade incubators on youtube that are made out of those disposable styrofoam ice chests. Maybe that would help you keep humidity more stable.

I have a hova-bator and still struggle with humidity because it is ultra dry in Nevada. I cut up a kitchen sponge and put the wet pieces around in the incubator. Also, you can lightly mist the eggs to raise humidity.

 

[ElizabethChau]

I've been placing stuff in their to raise humidity level, two sponges, and a folded up cloth, AND misting the eggs. The only time humidity seems to rise up is when I mist the entire insides of the box. I've since cut nickel size holes along the bottom edge of the box al the way around. Tomorrow I will be buying a small hand held fan (the ones little kids use) and fitting that into a hole near the bulb. Theoretically it should circulate the air and help humidity rise up a bit more. I HOPE, I'll be running an empty box until I can work out all the kinks. And if it doesnt stabilise then I'll go buy the styro cooler box at Walmart

 

[barnyard pimp]

Sorry to hear about your loss Elizabeth. I am just starting out as well and it is no fun when you stare at the eggs so long to get nothing. Things happen though. If I may suggest finding something other that a foam cooler. That was my first idea as well and it went horrible. Might work for some but for me, I couldn't keep the humidity under control. I had switched over to a old igloo cooler halfway through the hatch. You might be able to find one without buying one.

On the plus side, you got some laying eggs!

 

[GrandmaBird]

First you should not try to candle these little guys eggs, the intense light can cause heat from the light or cold from being out of the incubator, that could kill the embryo. The humidity should be 50-60% for hatching and a temp of 99.5 or 100 if not using a fan, give or take a few degrees. did you let them incubate for the 16 days not counting the first day? Leave for a few days extra. The temp may have fluctuated too much and killed the embryo's or is your hen getting enough calcium? she should be getting extra when she is laying, use oyster shell. or it even could have been an bacterial infection or not enough air. so many things can go wrong just try again but I would suggest getting a Styrofoam cooler or incubator first. good luck