Quail hatching in 24 hours question

[AllGodsCreatures]

Hello, everybody, I am expecting my quail eggs to hatch within the next 24 hours. What should their temp be after hatching? AND After hatching and drying, they need no humidity? yes or no and if they do need humidity, what percentage?


Also, I have starter chick feed. Do I use this and do I have to grind it to powder or is this feed the right size already?

Thanks for any help I truly appreciate it

 

[DK newbie]

I've never hatched anything, but I've been reading enough on this forum to answer your questions to some extent:
Leave them in the incubator till they are dry, then remove them to the brooder - be sure only to open the incubator for a few seconds, so it doesn't loose too much humidity for the rest to hatch.
The brooder should be 98 F (as I recall) at the warmest place for the first few days - then gradually lower the temp with 5 degrees a week. No added humidity in the brooder, no.
Chick starter can have many sizes - if in doubt, grind it.

 

[AllGodsCreatures]

I've never hatched anything, but I've been reading enough on this forum to answer your questions to some extent:
Leave them in the incubator till they are dry, then remove them to the brooder - be sure only to open the incubator for a few seconds, so it doesn't loose too much humidity for the rest to hatch.
The brooder should be 98 F (as I recall) at the warmest place for the first few days - then gradually lower the temp with 5 degrees a week. No added humidity in the brooder, no.
Chick starter can have many sizes - if in doubt, grind it.

Thank you so much for your help I truly truly appreciate it God bless

 

[paneubert]

Also, I have starter chick feed. Do I use this and do I have to grind it to powder or is this feed the right size already?

They need higher protein feed (more in the 26-30% range). Just as you cant raise them long term on lower protein chicken feed, you cant "hatch" them on chick feed either. Go out and get some "turkey starter" or "gamebird" feed that has higher protein. You will most likely need to grind or crush it a little smaller since quail chicks are tiny. Smaller than chicken chicks.

 

[Binki]

Best to use two people - one to open the lid a few inches and hold a light shining where the other will pick up the dry chicks (the light attracts them) and put them in the preferably right there brooder that's already a stable temperature. Paper towel is the best bedding for the first week, add marbles or something else to their bird water dish so they don't drown (they drown VERY easily) and you'll have to show them how to eat and drink by tapping on the food with your finger to imitate pecking and dipping a few beaks in the water.

 

[AllGodsCreatures]

I've never hatched anything, but I've been reading enough on this forum to answer your questions to some extent:
Leave them in the incubator till they are dry, then remove them to the brooder - be sure only to open the incubator for a few seconds, so it doesn't loose too much humidity for the rest to hatch.
The brooder should be 98 F (as I recall) at the warmest place for the first few days - then gradually lower the temp with 5 degrees a week. No added humidity in the brooder, no.
Chick starter can have many sizes - if in doubt, grind it.

They need higher protein feed (more in the 26-30% range). Just as you cant raise them long term on lower protein chicken feed, you cant "hatch" them on chick feed either. Go out and get some "turkey starter" or "gamebird" feed that has higher protein. You will most likely need to grind or crush it a little smaller since quail chicks are tiny. Smaller than chicken chicks.

Best to use two people - one to open the lid a few inches and hold a light shining where the other will pick up the dry chicks (the light attracts them) and put them in the preferably right there brooder that's already a stable temperature. Paper towel is the best bedding for the first week, add marbles or something else to their bird water dish so they don't drown (they drown VERY easily) and you'll have to show them how to eat and drink by tapping on the food with your finger to imitate pecking and dipping a few beaks in the water.

Thanks for the tips everybody. I am a little concerned today makes day 18 and no sign of hatching, any thoughts here, I thought it was average 17 days???

 

[paneubert]

Thanks for the tips everybody. I am a little concerned today makes day 18 and no sign of hatching, any thoughts here, I thought it was average 17 days???

Even a degree cold can delay things by a day. Maybe you were running at lower than 99.5?

 

[AllGodsCreatures]

Even a degree cold can delay things by a day. Maybe you were running at lower than 99.5?

Not that I am aware of, I had kept close check on them numerous times throughout the day. Yesterday I had to go help my husband at his job and wasnt able to keep watch on the temp as normal, thinking I would be home alot earlier than expected. When I got home the temp read 106 and I was so upset, although I dont think that temp was there for very long, I am so afraid I hurt them.

 

[Binki]

Anything yet?

 

[paneubert]

When I got home the temp read 106 and I was so upset,

Yeah....that might be the problem. I hope they did not get cooked.