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Do you mean you had to turn the first lot by hand? Maybe things will get better on the next hatch. With up to 58 quails you should get plenty of eggs!
It's vry possible that several of the first batch only just made it through the hatching process, probably because of deficiencies in the eggs or their age, nothing to do with you, and then succumbed. Next time, thoroughly disinfect the incubator before the eggs go in, using proper incubator disinfectant; run it up for 24-48 hours beforehand and check the temperature with a second, good-quality thermometer, placed in various areas of the incubator; use only clean eggs with no signs of damage; incubate dry or with minimal water until Day 15; and when you stop turning the eggs, cover the bottom surface with something soft and grippy such as j-cloth or old tea towel, cut to fit, (get this ready before you set the eggs so you can just slip it into place and it will fit.) With such very tiny chicks, it would probably be better to let them dry out on a cotton surface rather then on wire, and then you can dispose of the cloth afterwards which makes cleaning easier.
I'm sure you'll have better success next time, for one thing the parent birds should be in better breeding condition by then. Yes it's sad when some of them fail to thrive, but a lot did hatch and are doing well. When chicks don't make it, it's really just Nature's way of weeding out birds that wouldn't have been very healthy anyway, thus avoiding problems for you down the line.
Meanwhile, enjoy the ones you have! They're very lucky to have had such loving care.
It's vry possible that several of the first batch only just made it through the hatching process, probably because of deficiencies in the eggs or their age, nothing to do with you, and then succumbed. Next time, thoroughly disinfect the incubator before the eggs go in, using proper incubator disinfectant; run it up for 24-48 hours beforehand and check the temperature with a second, good-quality thermometer, placed in various areas of the incubator; use only clean eggs with no signs of damage; incubate dry or with minimal water until Day 15; and when you stop turning the eggs, cover the bottom surface with something soft and grippy such as j-cloth or old tea towel, cut to fit, (get this ready before you set the eggs so you can just slip it into place and it will fit.) With such very tiny chicks, it would probably be better to let them dry out on a cotton surface rather then on wire, and then you can dispose of the cloth afterwards which makes cleaning easier.
I'm sure you'll have better success next time, for one thing the parent birds should be in better breeding condition by then. Yes it's sad when some of them fail to thrive, but a lot did hatch and are doing well. When chicks don't make it, it's really just Nature's way of weeding out birds that wouldn't have been very healthy anyway, thus avoiding problems for you down the line.
Meanwhile, enjoy the ones you have! They're very lucky to have had such loving care.