Call Ducks Finally Hatched

[clousert]

One thing to watch right now, I don't know how your weather is but we have been having some HIGH humidity, with high humidity outside or in your house, could have an impact on your incubator. I do not add water to my incubator when hatching out call ducks because they thrive on low humidity but I do sponge mine three times a day.  So just to give you a heads up, if your humidity is high in your area adjustments need to be made with your incubator..

Great tip. Thank you! I'm in east central FL so our humidity is always crazy high. Do you keep your humidity at a set %? I've been doing a lot of research and most say 30-50% during incubation and then 60-70% during lockdown/hatching.

 

[Lacrystol]

Great tip. Thank you! I'm in east central FL so our humidity is always crazy high. Do you keep your humidity at a set %? I've been doing a lot of research and most say 30-50% during incubation and then 60-70% during lockdown/hatching.

I will keep mine at 20% but it will change when I sponge them, I sponge them three times a day after each turn. I turn them by hand. Come lock down, I will boost that up to about 60-65. 80 or above will kill them that is if it's been that high for some time. a past mistake that I have made on my part. But again with the weather conditions you must watch that, you could have it set at 60 and the next 30 minutes to an hour boom it's up to 90. Good way to give a person a heartattack..

You would think water fowl can take it, believe me THEY CAN"T.. Once they do hatch I don't allow mine to swim for the first week, they can't stay afloat. They can if they have a mommy because the mommy will produce oil and put it on there babies under her wing, but when we hatch it takes about a week for them to produce there own.

Come hatching day if you feel you need help you can always contact me. I have help several people get there little call ducks out of the shell because they ran into problems.

 

[clousert]

Wow. Wouldn't have expected 20% but I can see that with the sponging. I will try that. Thanks for offering to help come hatch time also. Very kind of you. I'm aware of how to make the hole for breathing if needed but wouldn't know where to go from there if the little ones needed more help than that. My eggs are being shipped which I hate but can't find anyone local so had no choice. They should be here in the next week or so and I'm already getting antsy lol. I have 54 chicks in the brooders right now though (3 wks old) so it will give me a little more time to get them off to their new homes, and the 15 or so I'm keeping from this batch settled into their new coops before starting to brood the new babies if and when they hatch. Thank you again!

 

[clousert]

My call eggs finally arrived yesterday. One of the air cells was a little saddled over the large end of the egg but other than they look good. Into the incubator they shall go tonight. I got butterscotch, penciled and buff. I'm so excited. It's going to be the longest 26 days lol.

 

[Lacrystol]

My call eggs finally arrived yesterday. One of the air cells was a little saddled over the large end of the egg but other than they look good. Into the incubator they shall go tonight. I got butterscotch, penciled and buff. I'm so excited. It's going to be the longest 26 days lol.

How's your hatching coming along??

 

[clousert]

They're in the incubator. I see definite veining in 1 of them. Really hope to see more soon. Today is 5th day. Keeping fingers tightly crossed. 18 eggs and I'm really hoping for at least 4 babies. The more the merrier though . Would think I'd see veining in the others by now though so I don't know. Hoping for late starters

 

[Lacrystol]

Because call ducks take longer 26 days compair to a chicken give them at least seven or ten days to really see veins.. By then you should see something they maybe small but something should be happening by then, the best way to candle is with your phone., there's an app for free called flashlight it uses your flash for taken pictures and replaces it as a flashlight very bright very small you can see from one end to the other end of the egg...

 

[clousert]

Because call ducks take longer 26 days compair to a chicken give them at least seven or ten days to really see veins.. By then you should see something they maybe small but something should be happening by then, the best way to candle is with your phone., there's an app for free called flashlight it uses your flash for taken pictures and replaces it as a flashlight very bright very small you can see from one end to the other end of the egg...

Thanks. I figured it might take a little longer. I must admit though that patience is not a strong point of mine though . I do force it though when needed in times like these lol. I haven't picked them up to candle yet because I know how delicate they are in the first week. I just shine the little mag light on them while I'm in there turning. It works pretty well. I did see a tiny red vein about 1/2" long in 2 of the other eggs tonight so hopefully that means that they're starting too. The 1 though is just covered in veins and I can see the tiny little duckling inside. It's one of the penciled call eggs. The veins in it have been growing for the last couple of days and now cover 1 whole side of the egg. Does that mean that it's going to hatch 2 or more days before the others? I still have 3 more weeks to go and the suspense of these little babies is already killing me lol. I know it will be worth the wait though if all works out. Thanks again for keeping me in check and easing my mind a little

 

[Lacrystol]

No it won't hatch early, lol once the others begin, some how they catch up, not sure how but they do. Usually the faster ones take a day longer..usually.. They also end up being the bigger ones. Just stick with the normal time frame, I usually do not turn them any more four days before hatching gives them an extra day to get into position, also helps with having upside downers.. I keep misting them and treat them as normal, but just stop the turning. Then three days before that's when you lock them down...

 

[clousert]

Thanks. The egg that the baby is visible in is one of the smallest eggs. There is a 2nd penciled call that seems to be starting and a buff. I will check again tonight to see if I can see any further development. When they're 8 days I'll do a better candling. I love incubating. The suspense kills me but it's great