Question about “lockdown”?

[kurby22]

Quick questions that are maybe rather silly, but I want to get it right. Tomorrow will be lockdown day...and I’m nervous about messing things up right near the end!

1) Does it matter when I do lockdown? They went in around noon on the 5th...should I wait till noon tomorrow?

2) They are in an auto turner and I need to take that out and the upper flooring out so they have more room to hatch...what is the best way to do this so they don’t get too cold while I’m moving them in and out? Should I turn the heat lamp on over them just to keep them warm?

3) The humidity has been right around 25-30 most of the time, so I’ll need to increase it obviously...will a damp paper towel be enough for most of lockdown or should I do a wet sponge? I don’t want to over humidify...

4) And lastly, I read that because they’re so little and don’t have the same reserves chickens do, they only have about 12 hours before they need feed and their water...should I take early hatching chicks out of the bator if there are still others waiting to hatch?

Thank you!

 

[Weeg]

Your questions aren't silly at all, never hesitate to ask. I'll answer as may as I can.

1) Does it matter when I do lockdown? They went in around noon on the 5th...should I wait till noon tomorrow?

I don't think it matters to much. A few hours isn't gonna make a huge difference, so I bet if you did it a few hours early or late it wont hurt the babies.

2) They are in an auto turner and I need to take that out and the upper flooring out so they have more room to hatch...what is the best way to do this so they don’t get too cold while I’m moving them in and out? Should I turn the heat lamp on over them just to keep them warm?

Eggs will be perfectly fine out of the incubator for a few hours. I've seen posts were the incubator turns off because of a power outage, and the eggs still do alright.
Just set them on a piece of clothing, and put another piece of clothing over the top to help keep them warm, that is what I plan to do with my lockdown tomorrow.

3) The humidity has been right around 25-30 most of the time, so I’ll need to increase it obviously...will a damp paper towel be enough for most of lockdown or should I do a wet sponge? I don’t want to over humidify...

Towel or sponge will work great. Either works great for me. With a sponge you have to cut down to adjust surface area, which just humidity, were a paper towel you can fold or unfold to increase surface area. I prefer paper towel.

4) And lastly, I read that because they’re so little and don’t have the same reserves chickens do, they only have about 12 hours before they need feed and their water...should I take early hatching chicks out of the bator if there are still others waiting to hatch?

I only have experience with chicken eggs, but the grab add plop method works pretty good for getting babies out. You basically, get a box, open the bator just enough, and grab and plop. Lol!
As long as you do it fast, I don't think that it will matter to much for just a second. I've heard its fine to do with chicken eggs at least.

I hope I can help! I only have experience with chickens, so some of my info may be wrong. Hopefully someone with quail expense will chime in soon! @KenjiQuacker, you've hatched quail eggs before, suggestions?

 

[JustAChickenLoverOverHere]

1) Does it matter when I do lockdown? They went in around noon on the 5th...should I wait till noon tomorrow?

It doesn’t matter, though preferably do it later instead of earlier. Again, doesn’t matter and it won’t hurt, just my opinion.

2) They are in an auto turner and I need to take that out and the upper flooring out so they have more room to hatch...what is the best way to do this so they don’t get too cold while I’m moving them in and out? Should I turn the heat lamp on over them just to keep them warm?

They’ll be fine.

3) The humidity has been right around 25-30 most of the time, so I’ll need to increase it obviously...will a damp paper towel be enough for most of lockdown or should I do a wet sponge? I don’t want to over humidify...

A damp paper towel will suffice.

4) And lastly, I read that because they’re so little and don’t have the same reserves chickens do, they only have about 12 hours before they need feed and their water...should I take early hatching chicks out of the bator if there are still others waiting to hatch?

I always take chicks out of the incubator within 2 and 24 hours after they hatch. I’ve always preferred to be really hands-on, so I take them out as soon as I can.

 

[JustAChickenLoverOverHere]

It doesn’t matter, though preferably do it later instead of earlier. Again, doesn’t matter and it won’t hurt, just my opinion.

They’ll be fine.

A damp paper towel will suffice.

I always take chicks out of the incubator within 2 and 24 hours after they hatch. I’ve always preferred to be really hands-on, so I take them out as soon as I can.

Oh and @Kiki and @Nabiki any input here?

 

[Kiki]

Take the turner out in the morning.

Take the turner out carefully and move the eggs...it shouldn't take but a minute it two and that isn't long enough to worry about.

A sponge will work.

I take quail out pretty quickly...a few hours at most.

I would never leave them in the bator for 12 hours.

 

[Kiki]

Oh and @Kiki and @Nabiki any input here?

I have taken the turner out a week early with zero ill effects.

Turning of eggs is more important during the first week of incubation.

 

[KenjiQuacker]

I don't have much experience hatching quail eggs, I've only tried it once. what I know is that the humidity needs to stay up, humidity being too low is what killed my eggs. At least 50% I think, usually it should be higher though, more like 65%.

The eggs should be ok for a while without heat, especially since they're so far in development by now. I think they're more resilient once they're more developed. I also don't think it matters much about when exactly lockdown is, I accidentally did my lockdown a bit early and the eggs survived (until they got shrink wrapped). I think it'll be ok to take the chicks out as long as you do it quickly.

I've only had one experience with hatching quail eggs though, so if I'm wrong about anything here correct me but don't get mad at me please.

Good luck!

 

[kurby22]

Your questions aren't silly at all, never hesitate to ask. I'll answer as may as I can.


I don't think it matters to much. A few hours isn't gonna make a huge difference, so I bet if you did it a few hours early or late it wont hurt the babies.


Eggs will be perfectly fine out of the incubator for a few hours. I've seen posts were the incubator turns off because of a power outage, and the eggs still do alright.
Just set them on a piece of clothing, and put another piece of clothing over the top to help keep them warm, that is what I plan to do with my lockdown tomorrow.


Towel or sponge will work great. Either works great for me. With a sponge you have to cut down to adjust surface area, which just humidity, were a paper towel you can fold or unfold to increase surface area. I prefer paper towel.


I only have experience with chicken eggs, but the grab add plop method works pretty good for getting babies out. You basically, get a box, open the bator just enough, and grab and plop. Lol!
As long as you do it fast, I don't think that it will matter to much for just a second. I've heard its fine to do with chicken eggs at least.

I hope I can help! I only have experience with chickens, so some of my info may be wrong. Hopefully someone with quail expense will chime in soon! @KenjiQuacker, you've hatched quail eggs before, suggestions?

Thank you! This was very helpful. I just wanted to make sure I wasn’t going to do anything really dumb haha. I didn’t think about covering them with something to keep them warm. That’s a great suggestion. My chickens I bought were chicks, so this hatching thing has me more nervous!

 

[kurby22]

It doesn’t matter, though preferably do it later instead of earlier. Again, doesn’t matter and it won’t hurt, just my opinion.

They’ll be fine.

A damp paper towel will suffice.

I always take chicks out of the incubator within 2 and 24 hours after they hatch. I’ve always preferred to be really hands-on, so I take them out as soon as I can.

Awesome, thank you! I think I will try the paper towel. I’m glad to hear that an earlier exit from the bator is acceptable! I already know I’m worried enough!

 

[kurby22]

Take the turner out in the morning.

Take the turner out carefully and move the eggs...it shouldn't take but a minute it two and that isn't long enough to worry about.

A sponge will work.

I take quail out pretty quickly...a few hours at most.

I would never leave them in the bator for 12 hours.

Great, I thought 12 hours seemed long!! Also, when do you “assist” if they’re struggling? Or do you help quail at all? And do quail get pasty butt? I’m clearly very new to this