Quail Hatch-a-long

[Justy0]

Well today is lockdown! Last night I had to take another one out with a clear blood ring. So 22 eggs on lockdown, however two other eggs look like they may have blood rings and there are several that just don't like fertile. I have High hopes for about 8 to 11 of them, though!

 

[Justy0]

Oh and when I was candling for the last time last night I saw one of the moving! Does that mean he may come earlier since the others didn't appear to be moving? Or is it just a more active chick?

 

[JaeG]

Oh and when I was candling for the last time last night I saw one of the moving! Does that mean he may come earlier since the others didn't appear to be moving? Or is it just a more active chick?

What exactly did you see moving? Before they internally pip you will see the membrane above the air cell moving on one side as the chick twitches, and if they have internally pipped you will see a little shadow beak moving (wondering who turned on the lights). I had a Coturnix that did that to me when I checked the eggs just before lockdown. It wasn't the first to hatch because it then proceeded to get stuck! Your chick may well wait until more are ready to hatch at the same time - they like to hatch together. Do the eggs look all dark above the air cell or with just a little gap to grow into? Some chicks react more to the light as well. Good luck!

I'm still waiting for my Button quail to hatch - I managed to candle them yesterday (while the hen was taking a break) and one looked like it was trying to pip internally but the others all looked a day or so away. My little hen is sitting tight today so something must be happening. I've whittled it down to 5 live eggs (which is a good number for her to cover) so .

 

[Justy0]

Yeah it's pretty much dark everywhere but the airsac. And I saw movement but I'm not sure of the specificity of what it was. It appeared to be larger than just a few blood veins.

 

[Dani4Hedgies]

so exciting can't wait to hear when these little babies pop free.

 

[Justy0]

Hatch day should be tomorow or the next day. Nothing notable yet, but I was curious if anyone had any opinions on what way is better for opening incubator.
So when there are several chicks dried and ready to be moved to my brooder, would it be better to:
(A. Open the incubator slowly and then grab them quick and shut it, as to avoid a fast rush of air hurting any chicks that may have piped, or would it ibe better to

(B. Quickly open because the longer its open is more detrimental than the air rush?

 

[JaeG]

Hatch day should be tomorow or the next day. Nothing notable yet, but I was curious if anyone had any opinions on what way is better for opening incubator.
So when there are several chicks dried and ready to be moved to my brooder, would it be better to:
(A. Open the incubator slowly and then grab them quick and shut it, as to avoid a fast rush of air hurting any chicks that may have piped, or would it ibe better to

(B. Quickly open because the longer its open is more detrimental than the air rush?

Just do it quickly but carefully and get them under the heat lamp. I keep my humidity a bit higher to compensate for opening the incubator. Good luck - it's so exciting!

My Buttons hatched today under their mother. I've got photos of two of them (only because one is unusual and I was comparing it to another) and will try and get the others tomorrow.

 

[Justy0]

Just do it quickly but carefully and get them under the heat lamp. I keep my humidity a bit higher to compensate for opening the incubator. Good luck - it's so exciting!

My Buttons hatched today under their mother. I've got photos of two of them (only because one is unusual and I was comparing it to another) and will try and get the others tomorrow.

Can't wait to see! I'm keeping My humidity between 70-75%. Is that similar to what you do?

 

[JaeG]

Can't wait to see! I'm keeping My humidity between 70-75%. Is that similar to what you do?

I get mine up around 80%+ but that's only because I've got a cheap, octagonal incubator that requires you to take the whole top half off to 'open' it. I just lift from one side so it goes up on an angle (if that makes sense) but it's still a big gap, not to mention awkward. 70-75% sounds good.

 

[JaeG]

Here's our little hen, Spicey, with her new babies:

There 1 wild, 1 silver, 2 cinnamons, and 1 odd coloured baby. It's not the best day for taking photos because it's dark and rainy here today.

Here's my odd ball baby compared to its wild sibling - it's got the same patterning as a wild type but has brownish/grey stripes instead of black:

It's similar to the cinnamons but they have very orange stripes and sort of ashy, shaded stripes like this: