None Survived ;(

[ElizabethChau]

Hi Grandma Bird I dont use a traditional candler, the flashlight on my iphone4 works perfectly No worry of heat issues. So I candled them just before putting them into my incubator, it showed the air bubble in the rounded end (either way, after opening them they all had underdeveloped goopy babies, so they were def fertile). I gave them 18 days total. starting with Zero and counting up from that. I give all my quails gamebird feed, Turkey mash mixed with it, and oyster shells too. Treats like dried mealworms and small grasshoppers my kids catch along with spare green veggies and some fruits. I think this epic hatch fail was due to too much temp fluctuation and not enough humidity/ poor ventilation.
I have since made a new incubator with another box but better made and venting lower down closer to where the eggs will be. Also i am reducing the bulb watt being used from 40w to 25 watt.
I've had a 20watt bulb in this new box since yesterday evening and it has maintained a constant temp of 97f, so with the 25watt bulb being put in later this afternoon, I think it'll bring it up to 100 and hold it there. humidity in the new box is also maintaining at 45% and raising it seems quite easy with this one too. I wish I could afford a proper incubator, but I can't right now.
Between my three laying females, I have 26 eggs, 15 in one and 11 in the other, and NIETHER of the females are sitting on them! Today is their last day/chance to sit.... if they havent figured it out by tomorrow I will put them in my new and improved bator. (course I'll be up half the night ensuring its stable at 100F and humidity is holding at or near 45% before putting eggs in!)
FINGERS CROSSED!

 

[Peacerose]

I had another thought about your humidity problem. If you cut down your egg turning to three times a day, you would not have to open the incubator so often and that would help you stabilize. I turn my eggs three times a day. I set alarms on my cell phone to go off at 11am, 5:30pm and midnight. My last hatch was 20/24.

 

[ElizabethChau]

I think you are right, I will limit my turning to 3 times a day instead of every 3-4 hrs. But what about at night? They can sit from midnight till 11 without a turning.? Gosh I would sleep so much better!! lol

 

[Peacerose]

Every 8 hours would be a better schedule, but the egg turning has to be fit into real life schedule, so mine is like it is.

 

[Fat Daddy]

When turning eggs by hand. I try to turn a "odd" number of times so they dont go over night on the same side every night. I shoot for three times a day as a rule. But if your at home alot, turn'em when ya walk by... You will see better hatch rates with a turner, but nothing wrong with hand turn'n if you stay on top of it. Good Luck with your next try. Bill

 

[GrandmaBird]

I do not think it matters if you do not turn at night, I never did mine and I had a hatch rate of 7 out of 11 so not bad. I turned mine when I got up around 7am and then at 3 pm and 9-10pm. just remember which way your turning, i marked mine with a water soluble marker "x" on one side and "y" on the other all of them were turned the same each day.