Good old Call Duck thread

[WVduckchick]

Most of them are old Japanese vessels from WW2. Blame it on my being in Japan for so long.

Also minor update: egg number 9 zipped. Like a few of the others, it zipped but wasn't breaking the membrane. So I helped it out a bit.
So that brings the % up to about 65% and it looks like at the ABSOLUTE least I estimate at least 3 more will hatch with a 4th one on the iffy side. Still no development in the last egg. I can see the membrane inside shadowing, so at the very least, it's still alive. If 13 hatch, that'd make a 92% hatch rate. Which is much better than what I realistically expected. That being 2 maybe 3 tops. For most of them, I merely put in a safety hole. 4 of them, when I heard them getting weak, I intervened. But did so a fair bit early.

HOWEVER Number one spends all the time with me and only buries itself in the others.
When the order shipped to me, I put all of them in with the full expectation that I would need as many as possible just to get one or two.
9 and counting exceeds my wildest expectations.

Usually once they start into a full zip, they should continue, with only brief pauses. If one has started a full zip and hasn't finished within an hour, I usually will pull the cap off myself. Seen too many partially zip and die, or miss part of the membrane and struggle. If they made it that far, they are ready, so I don't hesitate on that anymore.

Did the one small, darker color egg hatch, or what is up with it?

And I'm not sure if you mentioned what kind of incubator you are using? Call ducks can be a challenge, and you've done fantastic! And shipped eggs on top of that! Great job.

 

[Knighstar679]

Yay! Congratulations!!

 

[StormsnSaugeye]

Ok. 4:50 update. Only 1 egg that has internally and externally pipped remains. so right now that means I managed 12 out of 14 successful hatches so far.
The all dark egg with no internal pip has done nothing so far. I'm nearly ready to break it open and see what the story is, but at the same time I'm getting the feeling that the time for that has come and passed.
out of all the Ducklings so far, the very first one sticks to me like glue.
As for the incubator, funny enough I'm using the Little Giant still air incubator. No turner.
I've come to find that the actual process of incubating is surprisingly easy. Even for call ducks. I went into this thinking "Well only 1 or two of these 14 will hatch" but to have 12 out of 14 so far frankly terrifies me a little.
For the first week and a half or so (Maybe a touch longer) it ran at high humidity. This was a combination of me following the instructions to the letter originally and the temperature and humidity conditions here in Ohio. Once I removed the water from the incubator basin, the humidity dropped to 30% and the air cells grew as they were supposed to.
My adapting and keeping a close eye helped I think.
Though again, an 85% hatch rate so far frankly terrifies me a touch.

Gotta say, the last two were rather weak and when they came scrambling out, it looked as though the vein was still slightly active leading into their naval. Both received sterile pads to lay and dry on.
So I'm certainly in the diminishing returns portion of this hatch.
Earl Grey is sitting on my lap and I have an entire flock to care for.

I originally only wanted 1 or 2.

 

[StormsnSaugeye]

By the way, the smallest egg in the lot was number 4 hatch. It was a straight yellow duckling. Frankly, it seems to have a few screws missing. It can walk and follow alright. It eats just fine. but when you look at it, you get the feeling that it's not as bright as its brothers and sisters.

 

[MontanaChickDoc]

I have a Polish like that. Her name is Stupid. Her sister who has a cross beak is Crooked. Stupid will walk right into you, or a wall, or the coop. I don't think it can all be due to her head poof affecting visibility. Sometimes she will just peck my boot randomly. I really think she's mentally diminished. Not the best genetic specimens
I need the name of the person you got those eggs from! that is a fantastic hatch rate for shipped eggs!!!

 

[shawluvsbirds]

Ok. 4:50 update. Only 1 egg that has internally and externally pipped remains. so right now that means I managed 12 out of 14 successful hatches so far.
The all dark egg with no internal pip has done nothing so far. I'm nearly ready to break it open and see what the story is, but at the same time I'm getting the feeling that the time for that has come and passed.
out of all the Ducklings so far, the very first one sticks to me like glue.
As for the incubator, funny enough I'm using the Little Giant still air incubator. No turner.
I've come to find that the actual process of incubating is surprisingly easy. Even for call ducks. I went into this thinking "Well only 1 or two of these 14 will hatch" but to have 12 out of 14 so far frankly terrifies me a little.
For the first week and a half or so (Maybe a touch longer) it ran at high humidity. This was a combination of me following the instructions to the letter originally and the temperature and humidity conditions here in Ohio. Once I removed the water from the incubator basin, the humidity dropped to 30% and the air cells grew as they were supposed to.
My adapting and keeping a close eye helped I think.
Though again, an 85% hatch rate so far frankly terrifies me a touch.

Gotta say, the last two were rather weak and when they came scrambling out, it looked as though the vein was still slightly active leading into their naval. Both received sterile pads to lay and dry on.
So I'm certainly in the diminishing returns portion of this hatch.
Earl Grey is sitting on my lap and I have an entire flock to care for.

I originally only wanted 1 or 2.

I'm thoroughly impressed.

 

[StormsnSaugeye]

I have a Polish like that. Her name is Stupid. Her sister who has a cross beak is Crooked. Stupid will walk right into you, or a wall, or the coop. I don't think it can all be due to her head poof affecting visibility. Sometimes she will just peck my boot randomly. I really think she's mentally diminished. Not the best genetic specimens
I need the name of the person you got those eggs from! that is a fantastic hatch rate for shipped eggs!!!

Glad to provide. I don't know precisely if this violates rules or anything. But here's the link.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/10-call-duck-eggs-hatching-incubator-eggs-dwarf-size-ducks-FREE-SHIPPING/312153604205?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

They actually send more than just the amount listed. I actually mark up the 14th egg problem as more of an operator error, that is, it wasn't tilted right and was at the back of the incubator, which is where the final eggs to hatch came from.

Also worthy of note, the final confirmed egg has pipped and has become more vocal. I expect a zip overnight.
After that one hatches, I'm going to finally close down incubation operations. Earl Grey is the clear most affectionate and heavily imprinted one. So there's a few takeaways.
1. When it comes to call ducks, they're slow to hatch, give them the time they need. From internal pip to external pip, it was 36 hours. From external pip to zip it was an average of 28 hours. With these numbers in mind, You can effectively pad an additional day and a half onto any incubation schedules to include lock down. When they externally pip, put the safety hole on. Don't bother doing it beforehand. It won't really accomplish much. Plus, when they pyramid, It doesn't hurt to poke a small hole right there as half the time they won't penetrate the membrane.
2. Incubate just a few. Even if you get a 60% only hatch rate, they'll probably both hatch.
3. Running at about 30% humidity is acceptable. Especially if you have an environmental RH of about 50-60% at minimum.
4. Don't leave your mouth open while laying on the ground and a call duckling is around. You will find it investigating your teeth.
5. Even when they push themselves out, there could be blood from their recently closed down vein. Apply pressure, use some bacitin (Or however you spell it) and keep it isolated until the blood scabs over just in case.
6. If you have a large group, they will likely imprint on each other rather than you unless if you give them individual face time.
7. Grey cats who are friendly to you will not touch your ducks. But the orange one who is half stray might if you don't stop him.

A number of these will be sold. But a few will remain. I live in a small village on a lake and while I have permission, I don't think they will really be happy with 13 call ducks running around when I said 2 or 3 tops.

 

[WVduckchick]

I’m very glad your first hatch was a huge success!

I must add that some of your observations would kill some of my ducklings. Not saying you are wrong, for the eggs that you had. But that’s one thing about calls, they vary greatly. Some hatch easily without assistance, others don’t.
I’m not trying to criticize, but only commenting to inform later readers to still be aware that there are big variations to take into account when incubating Calls.

 

[Knighstar679]

Amazing hatch!!! Congrats glad your calls are doing so good and you have a good friend in Earl Grey!

 

[shawluvsbirds]

I’m very glad your first hatch was a huge success!

I must add that some of your observations would kill some of my ducklings. Not saying you are wrong, for the eggs that you had. But that’s one thing about calls, they vary greatly. Some hatch easily without assistance, others don’t.
I’m not trying to criticize, but only commenting to inform later readers to still be aware that there are big variations to take into account when incubating Calls.

Same here. I've lost so many that never externally pipped I don't like to wait too extremely long to start my assists. It's a game of chance that you won't know until you try what your hatchability will be. A lot depends on type size and nutrition of the breeding stock.
So awesome to have such a good hatch rate from shipped eggs! I would say this breeder has made some hard
Decisions when it comes breeding for good hatchability, which would probably involve culling a lot of birds that didn't meet their standards. And that's ok I understand that's the name of the game for serious breeders.
I have to disagree with one point about putting in a safety hole after external pip. I'm curious what the purpose of that would be at that point? If they make it that far they should be able to breathe so I don't think the safety hole serves a purpose at that point anymore. But that's just my opinion.
Enjoy your 'lings @StormsnSaugeye
You will have a hard time deciding which ones to sell!