Chook Me! - Anyone hatched quail eggs with the Chick-bator? Today is day 18- are they going to hatch? I notice a smell now

Anyone hatched quail eggs with the Chick-bator? Today is day 18- are they going to hatch? I notice a smell now

I got the Chick-Bator with four quail CORTUNIX eggs and four more, from GQF. The site was often recommended online as a good source for incubators. I followed all directions, but of course the set up is so basic and the temperature control is not optimum. Today being the 18th day - and no signs of peeping I am now concerned, specially as I suspect there is a faint smell developing near the incubator. Anyone out there with any thoughts as to what might be happening, PLEASE help! My son asks daily if today is the day! Should I prepare to toss them? Any recommendations for what I should not/do next time? (Other than buy a better incubator!)

Public Comments

well I recomend you find out which egg(s) is stinkin' up your incubator, the egg(s) that is-is rotten and if you dont remove it now it can infect your other eggs. Did you candle them and check for fertility????? HOPE THIS HELPED!!!!!!! and I thought that quail eggs took from 18-21 days????
You need to check which egg/eggs are rotten. You should also sanitize the 'bator' to prevent the contamination of the rest of the eggs. Egg hatching is not exact. Depending on the hen, the egg and whether the chick is m/f the hatching time can vary. Also temp can affect the hatching date. If the rest of the eggs are not rotted I would try to extend the time for up to a week, just in case...
idk about a chick bator but u have to lower the temp down 3 degrees for the last 3 days and bring up the humidity cuz otherwise they wont hatch. u can do this by wetting paper towels and putting them in ur incubator. i know this sounds harsh but if they start to peep DONT HELP THEM!! i know its hard but the only way u can help them is to up the humidity.if you help them its unlikely that they will survive for even a half hour. iwent through this last summer with bobwhites. if your eggs are getting close to hatching u should b able to pick them up and feel the baby chick move and mayb even peep.