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I keep my incubator (still air) at 102 degrees
(forced air incubator should be kept at 99-100 degrees), and the humidity at 65%, I increase humidity to 70-80% after
last turn. You can buy a hydrometer at any pet store in the reptile section. I recommend you get one, they
even sell sets that include a thermometer. Never trust the thermometer that comes with the incubator, always check
it. The thermometer that came with my incubator was off by 5 degrees. That could mean life or death
for your babies.
I turn my eggs for 14 days(putting an X on
one side and an O on the other-makes turning much easier) after 14 days I only open the incubator to mist eggs to keep humidity
up.
As eggs start to hatch I mist them every 2-3 hours, being careful not to spray directly
into pipped holes.
Here are some button quail eggs with some
normal sized coins, this will give you a good idea about how small the eggs are.
Right before I turn my eggs for the last time
I line my incubator with non-slip brooder liner, hardware cloth can be dangerous and hard on tiny babies. The
rocks in the incubator are to help keep hardware cloth level.
After the non-slip brooder liner is in place
you may have to mist eggs to keep humidity up, this will also help baby chicks hatch. It keeps the egg membrane from
drying out and getting tough.
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