Hatching Quail help please

[matowakan]

I have had 3 Japanese quail hatch on day 18,it has now been 16 hours since they hatched.
Is it likely that the other eggs will hatch?
Or should they now come out of the incubator?And try again with some fresh eggs?
Grateful for any advice
Fiona

[JulieSherris]

Hey Fiona, I haven't a clue about quail, but I had 10 hen eggs due to hatch yesterday.... 6 did & all out just before lunch... so I was waiting for a stray duck to finish hatching & have turned out the eggs to clean & refill..... and 3 of the remaining 4 hen eggs have just started pipping!

So unless you are in a right desperate hurry, I'd give it until tomorrow & see if there's any action in between. Can you candle them & see if there's any movement in there? Can you hear them knocking the shell at all?
I must look really stupid when I think they should be ready to pip - stood there with an egg at my ear..... good job I have no neighbours

[matowakan]

Thanks for that - perhaps I will try to candle the rest and see.
I can wait till tomorrow and will stand and listen - I too often look silly listening for the pip,
Fiona

[theabsinthefairy]

I have never had any success candling quail eggs, but generally give them an additional 24 hours until admitting defeat.

[matowakan]

Thanks for the reply.
I gave them another 24 hours then got rid of the eggs,candling is a bit tricky.

However one died today for no apparant reason,one minute a manic bumble then the next no more and it looks like the other one is also about to go.
I dont think it is me so perhaps there was something wrong with the eggs or parent stock?
O well perhaps I will have to get the adults instead!

[JulieSherris]

Aww Fiona, that's a shame Have you got a hygrometer to monitor the humidity? I found that before I got mine, I was losing the chicks right at hatch time Now I know what reading I need for the last 3 days, I'm having a better hatch rate

I had 2 of the remaining chicks hatch yesterday... and the 3rd egg which was pipping is still there! Nearly cracked all the way though, so should be out sometime this evening - but considering the eggs all went in at the same time, this has been the longest chick hatch that I've known.... well strange.

[matowakan]

Hi
No I havnt got a hygrometer but thinking of getting one.
The last little one seems to have bounced back so fingers crossed he will make it - or it might be she!
Fiona