query_posts ignores the argument

Don’t use query_posts this will alter your main loop, you can query posts by day 1-31 using WP-Query();

$day = date('j');
$args = array( 'day' => $day);
$day_query = new WP_Query($args);

if ($day_query->have_posts()) :
   while ($day_query->have_posts()) :
       $day_query->the_post();
       //show posts
   endwhile;
   wp_reset_postdata();
endif;