Duck fertility...

[pirateped]

Second year in a row our call duck eggs have not hatched. In fact, same as last year, they have not even developed, so am guessing they are not fertilised. Poor Matilda has been sitting on them for almost 40 days now, but I don’t have the heart to take them away from her. Last year she just got off them after 35 days and never sat on them again. She and Frank are both healthy and mated a lot this year and last, but no ducklings.

I’m beginning to think Frank is firing blanks. Between them they’ve reared about 22 ducklings over the past 5 years.

Which brings me to my question...at what age do call ducks stop being fertile?

 

[Lil Drake40]

@Pyxis. I am so happy to hear about Frank. Very sorry about the eggs but I’d still take them up they do get run down when sitting for so long maybe next year you might consider buying fertile Call eggs and letting Matilda sit them?

 

[Jpat]

Ide tossem before they burst

 

[pirateped]

Ide tossem before they burst

Yep, that is the plan!

 

[pirateped]

@Pyxis. I am so happy to hear about Frank. Very sorry about the eggs but I’d still take them up they do get run down when sitting for so long maybe next year you might consider buying fertile Call eggs and letting Matilda sit them?

Ok, will do that tonight then when she is off the eggs. Not sure about buying eggs next year as would prefer to breed straight from our two. But maybe I won't let her sit next year and just take the eggs away as she lays - our neighbour loves them for breakfast anyway :-O

 

[WVduckchick]

Did you candle the eggs to see if any started to develop?

 

[pirateped]

Did you candle the eggs to see if any started to develop?

Yep, saw nothing. I even cracked two open a few days ago and they looked like normal eggs, no development and normal yolk (and not 'off' at all). Didn't see any black spot that you would usually see from a fertilised egg.

 

[WVduckchick]

Yep, saw nothing. I even cracked two open a few days ago and they looked like normal eggs, no development and normal yolk (and not 'off' at all). Didn't see any black spot that you would usually see from a fertilised egg.

Was hoping that maybe they just weren’t getting to hatch point since calls can be very difficult to hatch.
Maybe his injury was still hampering his ability? I think I’d get her off those eggs, and check them when she starts laying again.

They are beautiful ducks, I can see why you would like to have some of their offspring.

 

[pirateped]

Was hoping that maybe they just weren’t getting to hatch point since calls can be very difficult to hatch.
Maybe his injury was still hampering his ability? I think I’d get her off those eggs, and check them when she starts laying again.

They are beautiful ducks, I can see why you would like to have some of their offspring.

Yes, he was struggling to mate while his leg was sore, but he was performing perfectly well before then.

We were moderately successful in the first 3 years - 2 in the first year (first laying 7 eggs, 6 hatched, 1 survived - it was too cold. Second laying same thing), 10 in the second (from 11 eggs), 4 in the 3rd (from 10 eggs), but nothing last year or this year (not even failed hatchings, no development at all), which is why I was thinking their fertility was not good any more.

And yes, their offspring have been gorgeous Not that we are biased or anything...but Frank is a fine specimen!

 

[shawluvsbirds]

I have the call duck breed book. .I'll try and remember to look and see what it says about fertility when I get a chance.