Quail incubator questions

[DLS]

#1.I have conflicting info onhumidity
for incubating Bobwhite quail.I read a sheet sent from the egg seller to keep the humidity at75% That just can't be right??Can it??Then I see 60% one place . One place on a google search says don't put water in the pan untill 4 days before hatch & run the humidity way up to 80% . I really need to find out about this from y'all old hands at this.
I m putting some in today for another run.
#2. Just how important is it to "Let the eggs sit"After being in the mail I have heard to let them sit from 1 day to just 4 or 5 hours What say ye??
Thank you
Dan

 

[jvls1942]

I have no experience with your type of quail..I have hatched many button quail, though.. I am very surprised at the high recomended humidity.. I treated mine just like chicken eggs and had good results.

I would let shipped eggs rest long enough to come to room temp ..
5 to 8 hours should be long enough

If you have a hova or LG turner, I see no harm in setting them sooner.. If you are turning by hand or putting them in like a sportsman or dickey, I would let them rest longer before setting them..

 

[cawooduck]

I dont think you can go wrong with your humidity set about 50-55% until the last 3 days when i would bump it up to 60-65%. I believe you can drown more chicks than you would help by putting the humidty up to 80%. I would like to say the max humidity at hatching time should be no more than 70% and you will be just fine. Remember, as chicks hatch,the humidity will fluctuate a lot with the wet chicks that are sitting there drying.

 

[jvls1942]

high hum% at the end is not what drowns the chick.. It is too high hum% during certain times of incubation.. Misting eggs is good way to drown chicks.. goose and duck eggs are the exception..

 

[DLS]

I have a hova bator with no fan. so I think I should shoot for 55-65% this time what do y'all think? They say the temp at the top of the eggs should be 100. seems high also.

 

[jvls1942]

Quote:
100 is not high..for still air..

what was your hum% for your last hatch? how did your hatch go? I go 40% for day 1 thru 18.

 

[DLS]

Quote:
100 is not high..for still air..

what was your hum% for your last hatch? how did your hatch go? I go 40% for day 1 thru 18.

I tried to keep the humidity close at 70% that is what the egg guy said.. I got a 40% hatch. LOWEST ever. I will try 60% like always this time . The eggs from florida will be here tomorrow, I figgured today but tomorrow is fine.. should i try to set the heat at 101? or 2. .. some say 99.5.

 

[jvls1942]

hum at 60% sounds better to me than 70%.. 99.5 to 100.5 is good in my book..

 

[shelleyd2008]

I haven't hatched bobwhites, but have hatched plenty of coturnix and buttons. I keep my humidity at 65% at least during incubation, then up to 75%+ for the hatch. The eggs are so tiny that it doesn't take them long to dry out!

 

[DLS]

I hav gotten the humidity down to 60% or a little less but won't go lower . the temp is steady ay 100. I will back off on it but most say 100 degrees