Today is Day 1!

[chickgarden]

After many weeks of planning and reading up on coturnix quail we are officially on day 1!!
My daughter and I marked the Xs and O's on each tiny egg and put them in the incubator. Somehow I accidentally poked a small hole in one as I marked it I'm assuming that one won't hatch, but I put it in anyway.
These eggs are from James Marie Farm.

 

[James the Bald]

Good luck on the hatch. You will not be disappointed. It may be too late to repair that egg with a hole poked in it, but here is a thread of interest.
James

 

[sniper338]

My jmf hatch is about a month old now. I had a really good hatch rate... and a good hand full of late bloomers so make sure to keep the incubator on for another few days after they start hatching..

my birds have been really healthy and tame. Jmf bird are good!!!

 

[chickgarden]

Well, I'm afraid I've already messed up. Didn't take long. I've had the incubator running for a few days to get the temp at 100. Had the eggs in and was checking the temp about 2 hours later. I came back an hour later to see I had left the light over the incubator on and the temp went up to 104!! It couldn't have been that high more than an hour and a half and I quickly opened the lid to let it cool back down.
So, have I already ruined these poor eggs? I guess my over worrying about the temp has caused me more problems than not worrying so much about them.

The incubator is a Hova-bator still air.

 

[Bigbuck1]

I just hatched some and my temp went to 102 a time or 2. Like you, it wasn't over 100 for long. Anyways, 7 out of 10 hatched. Maybe someone with experience will respond but I would keep going and see what happens.

 

[davedavey]

Well, I'm afraid I've already messed up. Didn't take long. I've had the incubator running for a few days to get the temp at 100.  Had the eggs in and was checking the temp about 2 hours later.  I came back an hour later to see I had left the light over the incubator on and the temp went up to 104!!  It couldn't have been that high more than an hour and a half and I quickly opened the lid to let it cool back down.
So, have I already ruined these poor eggs?  I guess my over worrying about the temp has caused me more problems than not worrying so much about them.

The incubator is a Hova-bator still air.

I thought still airs were suppose to read at 102 so 104 for a short time should not hurt because it would take awhile to heat the eggs to that high anyway. Just give it a week then candle.

 

[chickgarden]

Thank you to everyone who replied! I've read so many differing things on the temp for still air, both 100 and 102. Its stayed at 100 since I caught it at 104 and I'll just hope that the short time it went up won't hurt them.
I've read so many good things about JMF and we are anxious to see these babies hatch.
Thanks again!

 

[TwoCrows]

Yes, short spikes in temp won't hurt the developing chicks. Eggs don't heat up really fast or cool down fast either. Remember in nature, the hen is on and off the eggs a lot, the sun can bake them while she is off the nest and the eggs may go cool for an hour. So you should be ok.

Sill air temp should be somewhere between 100 and 101. Read the temp down at egg height.

Good luck!

 

[chickgarden]

Thanks Two Crows! I was thinking that the times I have to take the lid off and turn the eggs was like when a mother hen gets off the eggs to eat, etc. Glad to know I was thinking the right way.