This happened 19 times over a 40 hr period, mostly within the first 4 hrs! Our first one failed to get out of his shell but apart from that and having to help a couple they all hatched well apart from those that didn't. This is a good number as the hatch rate is around 55 - 65% and we got just over 63%! not bad for our first go.
The chicks after hatching have to be left in the incubator, Ideally for 18 hrs from the first one to hatch so they can all dry out so they are able to regulate their body temperature.
As you can see we kept them at 38 degrees during hatching and aiming to get humidity as high as possible, the more quails that hatched the more it rose. after 18 hr we released them into a brooder (a box under a heat lamp set as 35 degrees centigrade.
A couple of late arivals had feet issues, we named one floppy foot, we hat to plaster his foot to some car to straiten out his toes, however after a day of this we were planning on replacing this but its already mended. photos of this also to come.
after a bit of a incident when we were out, which involved 4 of them getting in the drinker and getting soaking, one died of hypothermia before we found them, the others were saved by a return journey the the incubator, we decided to down scale there brooder for a couple of days.
The thing with coins in is there new water device (drawing pin case) the coins are to stop them getting to wet if they stand it it, the black thing is a screw bottle top. the other thing is a thermometer.
We later put a mop head in too which they like to snuggle up with when they nap, (every 20 mins or so)
They have recently been moved into there old brooder box with straw floor now they can walk better with a bigger drinker and feeder bit still with stones in the bottom of the drinking to minimise wetness. photos to come of this.
3 comments:
Funny how one quickly grows accustomed to a project when one's in the midst of it. Seeing it all laid out in a few paragraphs and photos makes the progress clearer somehow. The fact that we share a house with 16 quails really is pretty amazing!
Well done.
18 jeff! 18!
I usually put marbles in the bottom of the drinkers to stop them drowning - but your idea looks like it is working.
I also found that it was better to use Hemcore or Aubiose on the floor - mops up their 'poo' better. Or alternatively you could use kitchen roll paper - then just throw it away every day.
You will need to keep them indoors for around six weeks before they go outside - and keep them out of draughts too.
Yoy might like to put things in for them to play with when you move them back to a bigger box - so that they don't get bored and start pecking each other.
Ideas are anything they can climb over or run through. Not flower pots or such like that are closed or they have a tendency to suffocate each other.
Great to see your blog.
I will pop back to see their and your progress
Sadly I won't be keeping quail this year - due to ill health - but I do have a lot of info on my blog under the quail section if you need it.
Best wishes
Lottie
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