Quail pipped 24 hours ago...

[Zombie24]

Hello, I have one quail currently hatching in my incubator.. (Only one out of six eggs were fertile). Last night at 10 pm I noticed an external pip, but it was at the bottom of the egg. (The egg is lying flat on it's side and the pip was at the fat end of the egg but facing the floor), I turned the egg round as I read it should be facing upwards.

...24 hours later and the chick has pipped again but a few mm's away from the initial pip... I'm not sure if this just the process of 'zipping' or whether I've messed up his rhythm by rotating the egg. I held the egg to my ear and I could hear him pipping so I put him straight back.

Sorry, I know I'm likely worrying for nothing but I thought I'd make a post here in case it gets to a point where he needs assistance. I know assisting should only be done as a last resort... I read that they take up to 24 hours to hatch so I'm thinking the worse! Tomorrow will be day 17.

Thank you for any advice!

 

[SueT]

Hello, I have one quail currently hatching in my incubator.. (Only one egg out of six was fertile). Last night at 10 pm I noticed an external pip, but it was the bottom of the egg. (The egg is lying flat and the pip was at the fat end of the egg but facing the floor), I turned the egg round as I read it should be facing upwards.

...24 hours later and the chick has pipped again but a few mm's away from the initial pip... I'm not sure if this just the process of 'zipping' or whether I've messed up his rhythm by rotating the egg. I held the egg to my ear and I can hear him 'pipping' so I put him straight back.

Sorry, I know I'm likely worrying for nothing but I thought I'd make a post here in case it gets to a point where he needs assistance. I read that they take up to 24 hours to hatch... Tomorrow will be day 17.

Thank you for any advice!

I've only hatched chickens, not quail, but I'd say give it more time and don't turn it again no matter what. People will probably want to know about your temp and humidity readings.
Keep us updated! Good luck!

 

[Zombie24]

Thank you for replying. I definitely won't turn the egg again!
My incubator is an RCOM mini, I wonder whether it's a bit gimmicky... I do regret not buying a Brinsea...
I bought a hygrometer/thermometer a few days ago and humidity is always showing between 60% and 70%, from what I read, this is too high? There's nothing I can do to lower it as I can't control humidity with this incubator. I'm not sure whether it's been this high throughout the whole incubation because I only put it in a couple of days ago.

 

[SueT]

Thank you for replying. I definitely won't turn the egg again!
My incubator is an RCOM mini, I wonder whether it's a bit gimmicky... I do regret not buying a Brinsea...
I bought a hygrometer/thermometer a few days ago and humidity is always showing between 60% and 70%, from what I read, this is too high? There's nothing I can do to lower it as I can't control humidity with this incubator. I'm not sure whether it's been this high throughout the whole incubation because I only put it in a couple of days ago.

As I said, I have not incubated quail, but that's a good humidity for hatching chickens. Isn't the norm 18 days? You are probably fine. Hopefully some more experienced hatchers will chime in here. I've only done it twice. I believe in staying hands off, but that's a personal decision.

 

[MGG]

Thank you for replying. I definitely won't turn the egg again!
My incubator is an RCOM mini, I wonder whether it's a bit gimmicky... I do regret not buying a Brinsea...
I bought a hygrometer/thermometer a few days ago and humidity is always showing between 60% and 70%, from what I read, this is too high? There's nothing I can do to lower it as I can't control humidity with this incubator. I'm not sure whether it's been this high throughout the whole incubation because I only put it in a couple of days ago.

Welcome to BYC! The two pips is normal. All chicks do that, whether you see it or not. It's not zipping yet, zipping goes super fast and they're very active and noisy while zipping. Usually once they pip twice they zip in 5 hours or so. Give or take a couple hours. Your humidity is good so I doubt that he's shrinkwrapped. I never turn my eggs over if they pip on the bottom. I think it delays them some. Yours should be fine though. Just give him a little longer. My quail are almost always externally pipped for at least 30 hours before hatching. I just checked my records of my last batch, and the fastest one hatched in 20 hours after externally pipping. Quail, or at least in my experience, are quite slow but efficient hatchers.
Brinseas aren't always best, they're pretty pricey IMO. I got an NR 360 that I don't think could get any better. I've heard Incuviews are really good too. Did you have a calibrated thermometer in your incubator to verify the temp was correct? Also, are these shipped eggs? Are you planning on getting a buddy for this chick? Trust me, I've tried to raise quail chicks alone and it's terrible. They need a buddy. It's impossible to spend enough time with them even if that's all you do 24-7.

 

[Zombie24]

Thank you for the responses, less than 24 hours after my last post he had hatched all by himself. I didn't see any of the zipping! He's doing really well, eating and drinking. I've given him a mirror and a soft toy with a ticking clock under it. He only tweets loudly as if calling for his mum when I hold him out of the brooder for too long. He isn't pacing or anything.
He wasn't from shipped eggs, and the two thermometers were just shop-bought digital ones of different brands and but readings were very similar.
I feel bad that he's by himself but he does seem content. I'd be upset if he seemed stressed and unhappy but he doesn't. I'm going to have another go at hatching so he will have company in the future.

Thanks again!