Call Duck Egg Incubation

[ColtHandorf]

Good morning everyone. I have a trio of Calls and this is their first spring when they've been old enough to lay. I got my first two eggs yesterday and planning on incubating the, in a GQF Sportsman 1502 (?) Incubator. What helpful tips and tricks do you have for me? I hear they are difficult and these are the guys with the tiny beaks and heads so I figure that's par for the course.

 

[JustAChickenLoverOverHere]

@Isaac 0 @SolarDuck @KaleIAm @DucksAreBest @Mylied

 

[MGG]

The first eggs of the season won't be fertile.


Thanks for the tag!

Why would the first eggs not be fertile???

 

[MGG]

Good morning everyone. I have a trio of Calls and this is their first spring when they've been old enough to lay. I got my first two eggs yesterday and planning on incubating the, in a GQF Sportsman 1502 (?) Incubator. What helpful tips and tricks do you have for me? I hear they are difficult and these are the guys with the tiny beaks and heads so I figure that's par for the course.

Are you wanting to store the eggs until you have the desired amount, or are you going to do a staggered hatch and set them as they lay?
With the short bills, make sure you're around during hatch day in case they should need assistance. They usually hatch pretty successfully on their own though.

 

[Cecisflock]

The first eggs of the season won't be fertile.


Thanks for the tag!

thats kinda cool, why is that?

 

[DucksAreBest]

Why would the first eggs not be fertile???

thats kinda cool, why is that?

Before incubating, I wanted to open the eggs and see if they were fertile. But while I was reading, several sites said that the first eggs won't be fertile.

 

[MGG]

Before incubating, I wanted to open the eggs and see if they were fertile. But while I was reading, several sites said that the first eggs won't be fertile.

That's not true though. The first eggs will be fertile if the drake is doing his job. I've incubated first eggs from many different types of poultry, and have had many above average hatch rates with them.
There is lots of misinformation spread on the internet.

 

[DucksAreBest]

That's not true though. The first eggs will be fertile if the drake is doing his job. I've incubated first eggs from many different types of poultry, and have had many above average hatch rates with them.
There is lots of misinformation spread on the internet.

Thank you for correcting me.

 

[MGG]

Thank you for correcting me.

No problem!
Maybe your drake just wasn't doing the deed yet.

 

[ColtHandorf]

Why would the first eggs not be fertile???

Agree. My first eggs have usually been fertile. I'm hoping he's doing his job. The hens are usually in the water but I'm hoping he's breeding them. I'm trying to get some stuff moved around so they can be on the ground with a larger water source too.

Are you wanting to store the eggs until you have the desired amount, or are you going to do a staggered hatch and set them as they lay?
With the short bills, make sure you're around during hatch day in case they should need assistance. They usually hatch pretty successfully on their own though.

I'm planning on storing the eggs and setting at least a dozen at a time. I don't want to do a staggered hatch. Do you advise hatching them upright, or on their sides? I've read about helping them during the pipping process with a safety hole, but I don't know much about that. Does anyone have any detailed instructions on that? Maybe with photos or a video?