October Hatch-A-Long?

[aliciaplus3]

So far I have 25 quail out of 31 viable eggs at lockdown

I am excited

 

[Jules929]

So far I have 25 quail out of 31 viable eggs at lockdown View attachment 1559339 I am excited

Nice! How cute! Great job!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I didn't plan on hatching after September, but we all know what happens to plans when it comes to incubating.
I had a lone chick hatch Wednesday the 10th. So I put it in the brooder with 10 day old chicks. There are two eggs due to hatch next week and one the following week. I'll move the older chicks outside next week and put these (up to 4) in the brooder together.
Then I was tempted again. So I set 6 more eggs but was a day late for the Halloween HAL. They are due on November 1. I promise I'm done setting till middle/late December now.
I have a good excuse for this irresponsibility. Out of 20 hens, only 1 is still laying. She and a rooster have abandoned their coop and are now sleeping in a tree. They come back in to eat and lay eggs but I haven't been able to catch them in to lock them up. I'm afraid they'll be taken by predators before I can. The 9 eggs in the incubator now are all from that pair so if they get taken, I'll have some of their offspring.

 

[member 373180]

I'm realizing that choosing super dark eggs for my first hatch may not have been the best idea. I can't see a thing with candling, not even air cells, so feel like I'm totally flying blind. Weight losses a little more than should have been in week 2; we had a change in the weather and humidity's been fluctuating a bit.
My plan is to keep going and hope something (that is not smelly goop) comes out next Friday.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Have faith. Eventually you should be able to see the air cell when the egg starts to fill up with embryo.
Have you been weighing the eggs?
With dark eggs, I don't candle much and don't use a hygrometer. I strictly go by weight. Average loss of 0.65% per day.
If weight loss has been excessive, just fill all reservoirs for the rest of the way.

 

[member 373180]

Thank you. I weighed the eggs on days 6 and 12. They were humming along right on schedule at 6 but down a gram or so more than they should be on 12. Not catastrophic yet but shouldn't go on this way I guess. Maybe I'll weigh more often in the next few days and try to stay on top of it. I go into lockdown on Tuesday.
Any hints for placing the eggs at lockdown if I still can't see the air cell?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I really don't think it matters a lot. Sometimes I lay the egg on a hard flat surface and when it stops rolling, the draw down side will be on top. I then draw a straight line on that side and that is the up side.
The pip isn't always on that side though.

 

[HuffleClaw]

ME! Me! I’m here!

 

[BullChick]

Apparently I’m incubating. Her third time, second location. She had one duckling, but it didn’t make it. I’m guessing it died from a heredity issue. Hinnies and Moulards are sterile. The baby was a hinnie.


Under a roof, near the back door.

I think she’s going to have a successful hatch this time. No, I’m not worried about predators.

 

[HuffleClaw]

Apparently I’m incubating. Her third time, second location. She had one duckling, but it didn’t make it. I’m guessing it died from a heredity issue. Hinnies and Moulards are sterile. The baby was a hinnie.
View attachment 1559626

Under a roof, near the back door.
View attachment 1559627
I think she’s going to have a successful hatch this time. No, I’m not worried about predators.

I’ll be wishing her and her eggs/babies luck!