chicks pecking eggs HURRY!!!

[btmsx]

O.K., I have 120 eggs in a havo-bator. today is the 23rd day. I stopped turning and increased humidity on the 20th to 80f and started to see pecks from the inside on sunday night. since then nothing. There are more starting to peck through but its been going on for three days. The temp has stayed at 991/2 for the whole 23 days. Do I have a problem? I have bobwhite quail eggs. The eggs that show peck marks have one or two marks then its like they have quit. Any help would be helpful.

[CharlieHorse]

Keep incubator closed, humidity up and keep waiting.  It's 23-24 days.  You're still good.

[aKirA]

Yes it's normal.

[btmsx]

Thank you very much. This morning (Thurs) I had a incubator full of chicks. I had to open the incubator to get the dry ones out. When I get the dry ones out I have to have the top of for about 10 mins. What is the easiest way to do this without affecting the other eggs? I know I am going to have to open several more times before they all hatch. The other problem I have is the newly hatched chicks getting stuck upside down in the empty holes where they kick the empty eggs out. I have to open and pull them out by their feet as they they get their heads stuck. The point is I have to open all the time for something. stuck or under the tray or getting dry ones out.

[wildergamebirds]

This morning (Thurs) I had a incubator full of chicks.

  Yep.

  Of course you did.

[wildergamebirds]

I've hatched several thousand Quail over the last four years, and 4000 plus Chukars, this year, so far.  I still get that "mother hen" complex and fret over them worrying that I'll have a failed hatch.  You won't be able to, but try to relax.

  I actually thought of this yesterday, should have mentioned it.  One advantage of the small incubators is they are portable.  Heat a small bathroom to 80F + with the shower running hot for humidity, and you have a place to open the incubator without dropping the temperature and humidity, drastically.

  You are taking them out sooner than necessary, they should be fine for 24 hours.  Even the ones that are upside down.

[CharlieHorse]

They're more durable than you think....better leave the lid on or you'll create more problems for those that haven't hatched than any good you could do for the ones that have.  The membrane will dry and stick the bird within seconds. Any kids around?, I found it good to just remove one of the windows (keeps temp and humidity better) and let the kids grab the birds out of there as fast as possible and also grab as many empty shells as possible within a minute.

When I get the dry ones out I have to have the top of for about 10 mins.

:eek: ............way too long.

What is the easiest way to do this without affecting the other eggs?

Get a cabinet incubator.  I never thought that those styrofoam incubators where very user friendly.  I'd think that they would come up with a better design.