Where did I go wrong? - Coturnix Quail

[CapricornFarm]

Well.... I may have killed my eggs. After three good days of humidity in the 36-40 and temp in the 99.5-101 ranges, I woke up this morning to 12% and 103.4.... not even sure how it could swing like that overnight. I added some water and everything evened out. I’m going to keep them in there in hopes that some make it, but I may just be slow roasting eggs at this point. Such a bummer.

I think i did the same thing, i had thermometer issues. But hoping anyway, i want quail again SO much. I even ordered juveniles in case these don't hatch.

 

[CapricornFarm]

Wrapping up day 16 and no pips. Discouragement setting in... I know hatch day is 17, but seems like there should be some gearing up already. Crossing fingers.

Huh, i thought day 18 was hatch day. Brain getting old!

 

[CostaMesaQuail]

Huh, i thought day 18 was hatch day. Brain getting old!

Everything I’ve read says 17-19, so we’re both right.

 

[CapricornFarm]

Everything I’ve read says 17-19, so we’re both right.

Mine will probably hatch early if at all. I can't seem to get this bator below 101. Lockdown on day 14 seems too early, i read that somewhere tonight. Idk, i have had a headache all day. Tension i think. Hubby not happy i ordered another bator. Was supposed to arrive today!

 

[naf_appaz]

I had a spike once of 106 and still had a good hatch. As far as humidity goes spikes or drops mean very little for the first 2 weeks...its more of an accumulative thing as long as air cells are appropriate size for the time in incubation you will be fine. After lockdown you do want to keep it up there above 60. The smaller the incubator the quicker you can dry out and shrink wrap the little buggers. After your first couple chickies hatch and fluff up the temptation is to get them out and in the brooder so they don't crawl all over other hatching eggs....I believe its best to leave them in for at least 24 hrs. with quail, 48 to 60 with chickens as they do not need water and food as soon as quail. At first when I would open up and get the hatchers out as they fluffed up I had a lot more problems with the later hatchers shrink wrapping and needing help. I maybe wrong but it seems to me the early hatchers raising a ruckus and crawling al over the unhatched eggs motivates the slowpokes. Hope all goes well for you...if not we all learn with every hatch. I'm no expert just my experience with close to 30 hatches all in a janoel 12

 

[CostaMesaQuail]

Yeah, I bumped humidity to 65. It’s holding well. My buddy just had a good hatch from the same egg supplier and said they hatched on day 18. So that’s good. I’ll know for certain if I don’t hatch any that I nuked them.
Thanks!

 

[CostaMesaQuail]

I have one started zipping last night. Woke up this morning and there is some blood by the zip and a little outside the shell. Thinking it was dead, I took it out quickly to not spoil the others. It’s started wiggling and I could see it’s beak moving. So I put it back in.
I have read that sometimes they miss the air sac or pip through a blood vessel. But could this also be because the humidity was low and he’s stuck to the membrane? IF there are more to come today (day 18) I’m wondering if they will all have this problem?
Just curious....
Thanks
Dave

 

[feedman77]

I incubate at 20 to 30 percent humidity.

Have had some hatch early and others when I counted days wrong. Never upped the humidity. Those hatched fine.

He may be wrapped from removing him. But just watch and see if he makes progress.

 

[CostaMesaQuail]

I incubate at 20 to 30 percent humidity.

Have had some hatch early and others when I counted days wrong. Never upped the humidity. Those hatched fine.

He may be wrapped from removing him. But just watch and see if he makes progress.

20-30 the entire way? Do you have still air and hand turn? Mine has a fan and auto turner. Seems everyone has different views on humidity depending on the bator.

 

[naf_appaz]

You are very right about different opinions on humidity! The best advice I've heard on the subject is don't worry about the numbers...some one hatching in dry environment will have success consistently with numbers that would not work well in a very humid environment. Its all in the air cell development not any one set of humidity ranges for any given period of time. Exception being lock down you want over 60 at least, I seem to have best results near 80% for lock down. Get a good air cell development chart and tune your humidity depending on how your air cell is developing, if it looks good no change needed. Fluctuations in humidity will not harm a hatch as long as the air cell is progressing as it should. In my case its very humid where I live and I always incubate dry and need my room dehumidifier on to stay down around 30%. Lock down I add water turn off room dehumidifier and get 70 to 80. Works for me but would not work well for someone in Denver or the desert. Also as you stated type and size of incubator would be a variable...Air cell will tell you what you need to know!