Call duck egg quit on day 27??

janastasio

Songster
11 Years
Mar 17, 2008
232
3
129
New Hampshire
Just wanted an oppinion from those who have hatched calls before. This is my first hatch with calls. I have a new incubator and had 2 eggs from my new calls, so thought, what the heck! One was not fertile, the other has been developing normally. I went into lock down on Wednesday which was day 24. We had lots of movement in the egg on days 24-26. Today day 27 I havent seen anything. I have been watching through the incubator all day and listening, but there is nothing. I also candled again this evening and didnt see any movement or hear anything. I dont see anything that has come through the air cell. I figured I would see if anything changes tomorrow, but what are your thoughts. Temperature has been stable at 99.5. Humidity at 55-60% for first 24 days. I have had it at 65-70 last 2 days.
 
dont worry about it and stay out of the bator!!! you really shouldnt candle when the eggs are in lockdown....leave the bator shut and most people will wait till day 29 or sometimes day 30 to call it quits on their eggs
 
I know, I know, stay out of the incubator, lol!!! I have 8 new eggs ready to go in. If this little buggers a quitter, then I want to put the next batch in! I have read calls are 26-28 days for incubation, so I'm only just at 28 days today. My main concern was seeing all of the egg rocking and now nothing for 24 hours.
 
Quote:
Oh my dear! didn't anyone warn you that calls are hard to hatch? They have short necks and bills which makes it hard for them to pip their way out of a egg. They often try really hard for 1-2 days before they get worn out and die or break free of the egg.
 
yup, I knew these guys were hard to hatch! So no movement on the egg still, think its a goner? I have 10 call eggs to go in and some are at day 10 so I'm going to start to lose viability on some of these. I dont want to toss a potential hatcher, but dont want to keep incubating a dead baby either and risk the loss of new eggs. I think I will throw the new eggs in today. Its a risk opening the incubator again, but I dont think this little guy is still alive. I dont start the turner for 2 days so that wont affect it. I also think my silkie hen is going broody. She lives in my basement in a cage currently, so I may try some of the eggs under her and see if she takes to them. Hmmm, decisions decisions.
 
Most of mine that make it that long will quit before they hatch. From reading this forum I have learned to watch the eggs closely - once they have entered the airsack, I will put a small hole in the egg to help it breath. I do not put them into the hatcher until they enter the airsack, which means about half of them never make it that far. Calls are extremely hard to hatch but some do, I have two in the brooder right now and three other eggs did not make it into the hatcher. If you have a broody hen, that is a much better way to hatch calls.
 

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