Point down?

[SEP Board]

I see in some threads here, as well as other things I've read that when incubating quail eggs they need to be point down and turned 3-4 times a day till about day 14 or so. I understand the purpose of turning so that the yolk doesn't stick to the inside of the shell. But I don't understand the point down part. I see some YT videos where the eggs are laying on their side to whole time. And thinking about it, in the wild the point wouldn't be down would it? Seems like it would be on its side. So what is the purpose of point down and is it something that is necessary or just something that some folks do and some don't?

Thank you.

 

[0wen]

So that the air cell develops in the larger end of the egg. This is basically for incubators that have trays the hold the egg in this position. In my Brinsea mini as example, the egg turner allows the eggs to lay on the side. Shipped eggs sometimes need to be stored upright - do to USPS handling and air cell damage, so you would place them point down (in a carton cup or such)..

 

[SEP Board]

Thank you. So if I'm understanding correctly, it isn't a necessity to incubate point down. As I've been collecting the eggs this week I've been storing them in regular egg cartons point down. So I'm assuming that should be sufficient? And that I can incubate now on the side? I'm using a Janoel-10 and the eggs will have to be turned manually.

 

[paneubert]

Thank you. So if I'm understanding correctly, it isn't a necessity to incubate point down. As I've been collecting the eggs this week I've been storing them in regular egg cartons point down. So I'm assuming that should be sufficient? And that I can incubate now on the side? I'm using a Janoel-10 and the eggs will have to be turned manually.

I have seen various advice on this, mostly related to when hatch time comes. Some folks advocate having the point side down so that the quail has more space to break out upwards (towards the wider/larger side of the egg which is facing up), or I see people advocate laying the egg on its side for essentially the same reason. Moral of the story seems to be "don't have the wide side down if using egg cups."

 

[SEP Board]

Appreciate the info partner

I watched a YT video this morning where a lady was bating 24 quail eggs in the same incubator that I purchased. She had them laying on their side as well and 19 of the 24 hatched. I'll try the same. The eggs I've been gathering have been point down in an egg carton and I've even been tilting the carton from side to side. I'll put them on their side and see what happens. I set the incubator up this morning and put a separate therm/hum gauge inside and it seems to be holding steady. I'll have to work on the humidity as it's on the high side but that's trial and error with the amount of water to add to the tray.

 

[MrPezman]

Appreciate the info partner 

I watched a YT video this morning where a lady was bating 24 quail eggs in the same incubator that I purchased.  She had them laying on their side as well and 19 of the 24 hatched.  I'll try the same.  The eggs I've been gathering have been point down in an egg carton and I've even been tilting the carton from side to side.  I'll put them on their side and see what happens.  I set the incubator up this morning and put a separate therm/hum gauge inside and it seems to be holding steady.  I'll have to work on the humidity as it's on the high side but that's trial and error with the amount of water to add to the tray.

I'm in the same situation: just setting up my incubator today to set eggs I've been collecting

 

[SEP Board]

It's been a few days and the temp is holding steady. I've got the humidity in the area that I've seen recommended (40% +/-) and it should be no issue to bring it up to 60% or so once they go into lockdown. I've got the X on one side and the O on the other and have been flipping them four times a day.