Hi, If anyone's available to help with my previous post, I'd really, really appreciate it! I don't know if the quail chicks are okay, or if they're dying inside the shells because the shells are too hard to crack. If you have experience or knowledge in this area, will you please advise, asap? Thanks!

That doesn't sound to good. Valley Quail are ussually pretty east to hatch but not knowing the start date of incubation in addition to the temperature problems throws a loop into things.
I wouldn't worry to much about the humidity as Quail are a dry weather bird so it doesn't seem to make as much difference.
The temperature was a problem, but it's to late to worry now.
Yes it is common for chicks to take a while to hatch, leave them alone and leave the cover of the incubater down. If they can't do it alone, you are wasting your time trying to help them.
I think you may be in for a poor hatch, if any, but lets hope for the best. Give them a day or two.

Thanks for responding, cpp6318. You say humidity's not that crucial to hatching these birds? That's encouraging. But I'm very concerned because this is already the 24th full day of incubation. Someone at one of the feed stores said that if I could see the air space in the egg on candling it,it means that the chick hasn't yet broken through the internal membrane and into the air space, so it's not yet ready to hatch. Is that true? I can definitely still see the air spaces at the large ends of the eggs. But I've seen absolutely no movement, and heard no sounds from the eggs since last night. Could the chicks still be viable, and still resting? Thanks so much for answering. I was online and on the phone for hours today, trying to get some advice. It's not looking very promising, is it?
I really wish I knew more about incubating and hatching eggs!

JAE1, for future reference, there is a book called "A Guide to Better Hatching" by Janet Stromberg. I ordered it years ago from Stromberg's Hatchery, www.strombergschickens.com. It covers the process of incubating and all of the different types of incubators as well as the times and troubleshooting for different types of chicks. I refer to it a lot.

Bonnie

Hi Bonnie,
Thanks for responding. Yes, I read the "Guide to Better Hatching" on the Stromberg website, and printed it out for reference. I've been following all the guidelines. But, I don't know my humidity level because I don't have a hygrometer or wet bulb thermometer. I'm afriad I may have lost this whole clutch of eggs. I think maybe the shells were too hard for the chicks to crack? It's now the 25th day of incubation, and I see and hear no signs of activity. Heartbreaking, especially to see signs that they were going to hatch, and hear them trying. Everybody advised me to leave them alone and not assit, but I'm wondering now if that was the right course to have taken. There were some specific instructions and detailed photos online on how to do an assisted hatch. Too sad! Wish I could have afforded a commercial incubator. Tried to borrow one, but the woman hadn't calibrated it in awhile and didn't know how to make it work. I couldn't find anyone who could take the eggs to incubate them. So sad! BTW, do you know if the info I was given re. the air space was correct--that if it was still visible inside the egg, it meant that the chick had not yet broken through the internal membrane into the air space, and wasn't yet ready to hatch? I'm just trying to learn what I can in case I'm every thrust into this situation again. I'd like it to turn out better. Thanks for responding. I'm grateful for any feedback you can give.

jae1, I have never heard that about the air space. I read quite a bit about it at www.canteach.ca/elementary /life20.html. They explained a lot about the air space that I never knew. Just FYI. I have "helped" an occational hatchling, and every time I have I wish I hadn't. There is unfortunately usually something wrong with a chick that can't get out of its shell and I've regretted helping most of the time. It is distressing to have heard them peeping and not get them to hatch. Good luck with future endeavors.

Bonnie

Hi, I've got a pair Californian quail in a large aviary. Three days ago, I noticed a few eggs (possibly 10-12)behind one of the purpose built nesting spot. two days ago i tried to remove another ground bird (partridge) from the aviary so that it don't fend the quails from laying and then hatching, and during my attempt to catch partridge, there was a bit of disturbance in the aviary. I haven't seen the hen/quail going in her nest for the past two days. have i disturbed/scared her or am i just being paranoid? i am reluctant from going inside the aviary, in case i further scare the bird. my question is: do Californian quails abandon their nests/eggs if they know that someone has seen their nest? Any information will be appreciated.

I'm not familiar with CA Quail, but most quail will not raise chicks in captivity. You can collect their eggs and incubate them yourself.

hi but does anyone know where i can buy some valley quail eggs??

how long can you keep the eggs from the time they are laid until you incubate them and where should I keep them:

I have been on quail therapy for sometime now and its very good for my health.
I want to start rearing of quail birds and its eggs hatching,can someone tell me the necessary thing i should know about quail and its egg and how i can start because i have no idea at all. Please help i'm waiting
Thanks

i need to know more quail rearing and its egg hatching. pls help

Agreeing with oberhasli that chicks that are having difficulty hatching should not be helped. I know it is sad, but I have done it in the past with chickens and turkeys and have always regretted it. For the next time, invest in an incubator like the Hova incubator with fan and automatic egg turner. It also has special holders for quail eggs. Good luck.

I tried hatching out quail eggs from an incubator several times mostly unsuccessfully. I did hear that humidity is important. Also I heard you should NOT touch the eggs with your hands or fingers. I had numerous chicks that couldn't make it out of the egg, and also numerous times I tried to help them out of the egg, and they were never healthy. I also had quit a number that hatched, but had deformed legs and couldn't walk right. It was very heartbreaking. I did have 2 occassions where the hen actually did hatch out a couple babies (out of many eggs) and they are the cutest things on earth. I call them bumblebees! Even the other quail in the pen would sit on them to keep them warm. I really enjoyed them. I don't have them anymore and do miss them.

We had some California quail that laid eggs and we found them and incubated them. When the chicks hatched and grew, we released them to the wild again. We often have California and Mountain quail come into our yard. They are so cool!

I am far from an expert but learned fast contact me at bobdeno60@gmail.com