Call Ducklings - My First Batch of the Spring

[chickensioux]

OMG! Beautiful babies!!!!

 

[my1stchicks]

cute cute cute that's all I can say

 

[Ashmeade]

They are adorable! Wish our ducklings were tame. We got them from a local feedstore and they just will not tame out no matter what we do. I might have to get an incubator and hatch some...

 

[Scott]

Quote:
These are as calm as can be when you hold them.

 

[KateBeauchemin]

Any trade secrets to getting them to hatch in the incubator? We have over 95% when hatched by hens, 20% in incubator, I've heard people unplugged for 8 hours, 3 times during the incubation? Thanks! I'm curious!

I got 2 out of my last hatch... I have my two chocolate calls separate now, solid is from my sisters' eggs, and one from mine. She was mated before separated.

I have a Skid, and a Sam (bibbed and eyeliner, with brown feet, and white webbing)

 

[Scott]

Quote:
I set temperature to 99.5 and keep relative humidity at 50% during incubation. Two to three days before hatch I increase relative humidity to 65-70%. Be sure to turn the eggs on their side. Waterfowl eggs have much higher hatch rates if turned on their side. If your incubator's auto-turner doesn't achieve this, then turn them by hand. I did open the incubator a several times to add water or candle the eggs. It wasn't an intentional cooling, but obviously the temperature would have dropped during this time. If your temp and humidity have been within the recommended range, then I suspect your low hatch rate has to do with vertical turning. Turn the eggs on their sides!

Great photos of your calls, by the way!

 

[KateBeauchemin]

Great! Thanks so much!

My sister set some eggs, she got 20+ all moving, but at pip, never finished... She was devistated! She layed them down at lock down, set humidity high last few days. I told her it could be the new stock she purchased was young stock, could have been a factor? So we have decided to put them under my hens, for the last week. I have 6 hens on stand by, nearly 9 months out of the year they are broody, hopefully this will help. I will let her know of the laying them down the entire time.

Thanks so much love my little calls. I have 6 under chocolate hen due this weekend. Crossing fingers!!!

I love my little Skid... never had a duck with spots up the spine! And Sam the chocolate with white webbing! So cool! Two of a kind. What a great combo for my first ever duck hatches.

Is there any way to tell if they are half crested? my chocolate has kinda a bald spot on head, hen was with white crested and white drakes.

 

[Scott]

The hens should do the job just fine. I trust me hens more than an incubator.

 

[Scott]

Quote:
Yeah, I think I responded. Didn't I?

 

[bacres]

Is it ok to start eggs in the bator and then move then out under a broody duck?