I didn't think that they would have been totally frozen! Depending on how they are packaged can make a big difference in the core temperatures of the eggs.
Congratulations on the hatch! It goes to show how stubborn life can be, doesn't it?
The way I have it set up is the smaller one is technically under the glass of my brooder and there’s a puppy pad taped to the floor so it doesn’t move. Also have a cool side and the main heating element is above them, trying to sandwich them in with warmth. It’s what I did with my chickens except on low lol
If you have a heat lamp, you don't need the heating pad. I've seen pictures of chicks with necrotic toes due to heating pads. They don't always know how to get off of it. Chickens and quail are actually very different.
Ended up with 11 chicks that hatched on Day 25 - crazy! 1 has splay leg, not sure how he will do. We did have 1 dead in shell, and 4 pipped but never made it out. Learned a lot. I've got 4 new eggs in the incubator as of yesterday, and am keeping a 50watt reptile warming bulb over it to ensure temps over 98 degrees.
Good luck! One of my quail babies looks like it was born with splay leg, been keeping it in the glass throughout the day off and on but it’s a stubborn little thing. I have planned on keeping it as long as it’s having a good life.
I’m aware of the differences. The temps on top of the 2 pads is reading at 85-90 degrees which is probably a bit cool and the brooder is right at 93 degree since the cool side has screen. The lamp is solely for light so they can see. I don’t use heating lamps with my quail or chicks. I live in a wildfire zone in Colorado and never wanted to tempt my luck. But there’s a second heating pad wrapped in a towel over the top of the brooder. Haven’t had a single issue besides the one who was born with splay leg. Happy little fluff balls running and jumping and eating and drinking.
