Calling all call hatchers!

[Brookec86]

Oh Backyard family,please help! If anyone has experience in successful call duck hatching please I need your tips. They have been dying in egg like two days before the hatch day! I have a self turning incubator and temp and humidity are fine. Any help I would appreciate!

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

@WVduckchick is breeding call ducks, maybe she can help?

 

[Brookec86]

Thank you!

 

[Sleepytime]

Calls can be really difficult. I'm about 50% with mine. I'll be moving some call and black east indies eggs to the hatcher in a little while today and hope to get a good hatch by Monday. I've been told it's better to not to incubate and hatch in the same machine. Are you disinfecting in between hatches ? Are the eggs dirty ? Bacteria can cause embryo deaths.

 

[Brookec86]

Great tips,I am actually getting another incubator for that reason! I read the humidity level must be a little higher towards the last few days. Thank you for the helpful response!

 

[chickens really]

Are the air cells big enough because if the humidity was too high they drown once they internally pip and then never make it to externally pip the shell.

 

[Brookec86]

I believe so,but thank you for the input. It's very frustrating. I will watch very closely!

 

[Sleepytime]

Maybe this will help. Adjust your humidity to keep the air sac near the correct size. Raise it if the sac is too big and lower it if too small.

 

[WVduckchick]

What kind of incubator are you using?
Many of us have found that calls seem to hatch better if laid down throughout incubation, and hand-turned, instead of upright in auto turners. I usually end up assisting most of mine, as I’ve lost too many that internally pip and then can’t zip on their own.

 

[Brookec86]

View attachment 1728839
Maybe this will help. Adjust your humidity to keep the air sac near the correct size. Raise it if the sac is too big and lower it if too small.

Yes! Thank you,this is great