This morning, the humidity readings and temperature readings all checked out. So, I loaded 10 quail eggs into the incubator.
The quail eggs will be kept at 99.5 F and 45% relative humidity for 15 days. During that time, the motor drive in the incubator will roll the eggs back and forth. On day 15 we will remove the eggs from the rolling frame, decrease the temperature to 98.5 F, and increase the relative humidity to 75%. Hatching begins on day 17.
Because the eggs were collected over a period of several days, the hatching tends to take place over several days. Chicken eggs often “synchronize” so the chicks mostly hatch on the same day, but that is not so much the case with quail eggs.
Fairbanks has quite a dry climate. The summer is quite pleasant because perspiration dries quickly even when it is raining outside. In the winter, however, I have to drink water all day long to avoid having my skin crack when I bend my knuckles. In the deep winter, every outdoor object acts like a dehumidifier coil. There is hoarfrost everywhere and when the outdoor air comes indoors to warm up, the relative humidity plummets. Residents can get nosebleeds from breathing the dry air at that time of year.
My fingers are crossed in the hope that the humidifier solves our hatching difficulties.
