Why are my quail eggs developing but not hatching?

[broomrider]

The temperature and humidity are right. They develop until about day 20 but then die between day 20-23.

 

[GAQuail]

A little more information would be helpful.
Species of Quail?
Type of incubator?
Temperature?
Humidity?

 

[broomrider]

Bob White
Farm Innovators Pro series with automatic egg turner
99.5
70-75% Sometimes it gets above 75%

 

[FossilPeak]

That's peculiar. I assume you're laying them off the turner at day 21? Are they all failing or just a few?

 

[FossilPeak]

Mine are at 99.5 degrees in a GQF with turner...stays at about 67% humidity. My hatcher is a little warm but stays around 100 and the humidity is too high at 83% but I'm hatching 85% of my eggs.

 

[broomrider]

I'm only hatching about 45%. Maybe it's my humidity as I have seen it above 85%. If I don't keep the humidity a little high then they will start hatching but won't finish. I thought it was because the shell gets to dry. I take them out of the turner at day 21. Would feed have anything to do with it?

 

[dc3085]

I'm confused are you incubating at 75 % or just raising to that for hatching?

 

[GAQuail]

That humidity is too high. It will drown your chicks due too much fluid in the egg when they internally pip into the air cell around day 22. I would run it at 50-55% day 1-21 and 65-70% day 22-24.

I believe that model incubator has a built in thermometer/hygrometer. People on this forum have reported that the readings are not accurate. If you don't have a separate thermometer and hygrometer you need to obtain them. The Brinsea Spot Check thermometer is a good one. For a hygrometer you can get one that's made for a cigar humidor and that can be calibrated. Take a look at this one. http://www.amazon.com/Caliber-Digit...1402027295&sr=1-1&keywords=humidor+hygrometer

I would also raise your temperature a bit to 99.75-100.00 F once you know you have an accurate thermometer.

 

[broomrider]

Incubating above 75%. It fluctuates a lot and is hard to control. I have the incubator in a room in my house. The temperature is not hard to control.

 

[broomrider]

Thanks! I will give your suggestions a try. How do you control your humidity besides with the plugs?