Why does this hatching thing not work for me??

[quailmama 82012]

So, I am on day 21 of my third hatch. All of my hatches have not been successful.

My first hatch I kept my humidity way to high. The temp was fine and I got 2 pips and one chick. Sure, they were shipped eggs and it was my first hatch but 1 out of 14? Come on.
So our next hatch (same incubator) we probably did fine on the humidity for the first 14 days but were to careful on raising it for lockdown. I also didnt give them a chance and only let them stay till the end of day 21. I did an eggtopsy on one of them and it was perfectly developed, and had a small yoke sack. Those were local jumbo eggs that she said she usually gets a 50% hatch rate.
All right. No chicks on the last one, something has to change. I personally thought it was the incubators fault so I got a new one.
Third hatch went like this: i collected twelve eggs from my own hens (we got some adults) and put them in. The temp was perfect 99.5 and the humidity was 40ish. this ones turner (different from the last one) was a flat turner. On day eight I candled, and it looked like there was life in every egg but one (early quitter) but just to be safe I put the early quitter in there anyway in case i missed something. The air cells all looked the proper size so I continued to add water the way I had been. Late on day 15 I put the eggs in lockdown. I was really late though. I heard peeping when I was putting em back! I raised the humidity and the next day I had a pip! I was so excited! After a day It had not hatched though so i had to help it some, but i shouldn't have. Anyway, after some time it began to hatch on it's own, but it had a foot out and needed help again. So I helped it all the way out. The next morning when I was to put it in the brooder, it was dead. . I removed it and since then I have not had any pips.
Shipped eggs are coming in soon. I am also collecting potatoe (my hens) eggs. I am going to use both incubators as my small one can only hold a dozen.
1. Why were my past hatches so bad?
2. How long should I wait on these eggs?
3.What can i do to make my next hatch succeed?

 

[Nabiki]

Some of it is learning and experience. My first hatch was pretty bad, but I've gotten better results for each hatch since, until I got 100% hatch of all my fertile eggs a while back.

Here are a few questions for you. Do you have at least 2 calibrated thermometers in your incubator? Do you have a calibrated hygrometer? Do not trust your incubator's temperature and humidity readings. I have yet to see one that reads accurately, and I have three incubators.

Since your eggs are hatching late, I suspect that your temperature was low.

In my experience, coturnix eggs do best at about 30% humidity until the first pip, where I raise it to about 50%.

 

[quailmama 82012]

Thanks. I had one calibrated thermometer in there and its accurate. But I must admit, there was a non calibrated humidity gauge in there. At the time I put it in, I didnt think there was a way to calibrate it. Then I had a oh moment when I read how to test it.

 

[quailmama 82012]

What day should I give up on the eggs that have not done anything yet? Its day 21 today

 

[FloorCandy]

I’m not certain what advice to give, I never hatched anything before and I found it to be pretty easy and I had a good success rate. It seems as if you were attentive and worked at it, and since wild quail can do it, there’s no reason we shouldn’t be able to haha.

So you have tried 2 incubators, and eggs from 2 different sources right? Can you link your incubators and maybe people will recognize them and share any problems they had and how they overcame them. I had a turner that pushed them around a circle, and sometimes it really flopped them around, and they still hatched, so I feel like it isn’t the turner you mentioned.

My humidity was high the whole time because it’s very humid where I live, (Over 50% the whole time). If I were to guess, maybe the heat is slightly too low. You can try just buying 3 or 4 thermometers and compare them, I read somewhere that someone also put a regular human mouth thermometer (glass with liquid inside, not digital) inside so they could see the reading thru the window, I guess the companies probably test the calibration on human health equipment better than hobby pet equipment?.

How is the temp in your home? If you had to open the first incubator to turn them, maybe it took too long to regain the heat inside? Try testing thermometers, when you have a good one, put it for several hours in different areas of the incubator to check for hot and cold zones.

 

[Nabiki]

What day should I give up on the eggs that have not done anything yet? Its day 21 today

At day 21, I'd give the eggs one final candle and if there's no sign of life, give up.

 

[RUNuts]

The yolk sac not being absorbed is another indication of too low of a temperature. Should be absorbed by day 21.

Get 3 thermometers. The aquarium thermometers at your local box store are available. Others will be more expensive. Calibrate them. Use all 3 in different spots. Are you using forced air or still air incubation? Automatic turner or hand turning?

Nabiki has similar conditions to Arizona. I'm in a swamp and don't add water until the end and then only to 45% humidity. Multiple hygrometers recommended also.

Best wishes!

 

[quailmama 82012]

Wow! Thanks for respning and sorry
I'm late.

So you have tried 2 incubators, and eggs from 2 different sources right?

Three different egg sources. Second hatch was a local lady gave us some jumbo eggs of hers. Third hatch is my own eggs. The oldest was 7days old.

You can try just buying 3 or 4 thermometers and compare them

I will do that before my next attempt for sure.

How is the temp in your home?

This last attempt it was around 75ish but earlier attempts would've been a little cooler. Not by much tho.

At day 21, I'd give the eggs one final candle and if there's no sign of life, give up.

I would do that, but unfortunately I am out if town right now. My brother is at home and he could but I don't think he would want to/ be able to tell. I will be back on Thursday but I could try to convince him to do it.

The yolk sac not being absorbed is another indication of too low of a temperature. Should be absorbed by day 21.

Thats helpful, thanks!

Get 3 thermometers. The aquarium thermometers at your local box store are available.

Great thanks. Will definitely check when I get home.

Are you using forced air or still air incubation?

Forced air. Heard they were the better option.

Automatic turner or hand turning?

Automatic. The first incubator turned them every two hours while the second was a constant slow turn, but i made sure it turned before I started to incubate the eggs.

Multiple hygrometers recommended also.

Definitely. Humidity is definitely a struggle for me, haha

 

[RUNuts]

Forced air has fewer cold spots. Better is subjective. Easier and more reproducible, yes.

Another thought, is your incubator in a draft free spot? Away from the AC vents and drafts? This will play havoc with temperature controllers if the AC is kicking on and off all day.

 

[quailmama 82012]

It is in our laundry room. It doesnt have a door on it so it's not different than the rest of the house, and it's on the opposite side of the vent on the floor.