Good old Call Duck thread

[StormsnSaugeye]

Well, I gotta agree that some of my decisions could result in dead chicks. I weighed options, played it safe when I could, then intervened when I felt it was necessary. The RH % for the ducklings was made during a bit of a heat wave, and I made a number of modifications to the normal routine in order to ensure air cell development. From what I had heard though, still air is generally frowned upon, and I suspect some of my modification decisions arose as a result of that particular incubator use.

Concerning the safety hole post external pip. With chick number 5, I noticed that it would develop problems breathing mid zip. In that case, I completed the zip for it but let it work itself out. After doing a check, I came across one article on here which mentioned that call ducks can suffocate during the zip. It's thus advised to put a safety hole on post external pip. That way as they zip, if they wind up closing off their breathing hole (I suspect it has to do with the beak being small) they can still draw air from the safety hole above.

I love a good rousing disagreement though. @WVduckchick is right. A number of my decisions can cause problems or even chick deaths. The bleeders during 11 and 12s hatch certainly had me worried like nobodies business. Especially when they were the ones that pushed themselves out and had that going on. In those cases, I had to make a decision and decided to at least clot and disinfect the spot. the progression of chicks hatching from absolute strongest to the last few being somewhat weak by comparison indicates to me that if they were brooded by a regular hen, they probably wouldn't have survived the hatch.
That's just idle speculation on my part though. I have no data to back that up and I'm just going from the assumption that if they were not seen to with disinfectant and a crude form of sterile bandaging, there could be long term complications.

Overall, I'm glad I chose the call ducks and that seller. The total experience gave me a lot to learn from and now as I proceed with raising, I'll be in a good spot to learn what I can in order to have my nieces project go well in a years time.

 

[shawluvsbirds]

Well, I gotta agree that some of my decisions could result in dead chicks. I weighed options, played it safe when I could, then intervened when I felt it was necessary. The RH % for the ducklings was made during a bit of a heat wave, and I made a number of modifications to the normal routine in order to ensure air cell development. From what I had heard though, still air is generally frowned upon, and I suspect some of my modification decisions arose as a result of that particular incubator use.

Concerning the safety hole post external pip. With chick number 5, I noticed that it would develop problems breathing mid zip. In that case, I completed the zip for it but let it work itself out. After doing a check, I came across one article on here which mentioned that call ducks can suffocate during the zip. It's thus advised to put a safety hole on post external pip. That way as they zip, if they wind up closing off their breathing hole (I suspect it has to do with the beak being small) they can still draw air from the safety hole above.

I love a good rousing disagreement though. @WVduckchick is right. A number of my decisions can cause problems or even chick deaths. The bleeders during 11 and 12s hatch certainly had me worried like nobodies business. Especially when they were the ones that pushed themselves out and had that going on. In those cases, I had to make a decision and decided to at least clot and disinfect the spot. the progression of chicks hatching from absolute strongest to the last few being somewhat weak by comparison indicates to me that if they were brooded by a regular hen, they probably wouldn't have survived the hatch.
That's just idle speculation on my part though. I have no data to back that up and I'm just going from the assumption that if they were not seen to with disinfectant and a crude form of sterile bandaging, there could be long term complications.

Overall, I'm glad I chose the call ducks and that seller. The total experience gave me a lot to learn from and now as I proceed with raising, I'll be in a good spot to learn what I can in order to have my nieces project go well in a years time.

I see what your thinking is there. I think what your remember reading had to do with the placement of the safety hole being where when they turn to start their zipping they sometimes block off their safety hole and or pip hole so it's recommended to put it in the end of the egg.
Decisions just have to be made on a case by case basis. .you done good.

 

[WVduckchick]

Ok now flood us with cute little ling pics!

 

[Miss Lydia]

 

[StormsnSaugeye]

Pictures will come tonight. I've been a bit busy throughout the day.
Egg number 13 finally hatched. 14 I opened up. It was beak to the bottom and dead by the time I got to it. He didn't seem to make any effort to pip at the shell, nor could he have to be frank.
I just got back from the people I was gonna sell to. I decided to keep 2 of them.
Anyways, storms rolling through, which means I need to double check out network as a whole to make sure it doesn't die on us.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Your only keeping 2 of your brand new Call ducklings?

 

[StormsnSaugeye]

Your only keeping 2 of your brand new Call ducklings?

Yeah I am. I only really have room and village patience for two. I would have preferred to keep a few more... But that isn't in the cards.

 

[shawluvsbirds]

Yeah I am. I only really have room and village patience for two. I would have preferred to keep a few more... But that isn't in the cards.

Are you going to wait until you know if you have girls or boys? You might wanna consider keeping them long enough to tell so you don't get stuck with one boy one girl.. Sometimes they can do ok in pairs but more often than not with just one girl she will get over mated.

 

[WVduckchick]

Pictures will come tonight. I've been a bit busy throughout the day.
Egg number 13 finally hatched. 14 I opened up. It was beak to the bottom and dead by the time I got to it. He didn't seem to make any effort to pip at the shell, nor could he have to be frank.
I just got back from the people I was gonna sell to. I decided to keep 2 of them.
Anyways, storms rolling through, which means I need to double check out network as a whole to make sure it doesn't die on us.

Excellent hatch.

P.S. I was on Wolf Run Lake when the storm hit tonight. Even had one decent saugeye in the live well! Tossed it back since it was the only one.

 

[StormsnSaugeye]

Guess what time it is.
That's right. It's a quick update and growth!
Out of the 13 I have earl grey and yuudachi remain with me. Little grey doesn't like the act of being picked up but doesn't mind after the action is complete and settles into my hand.
He's a fair bit bigger than yuudachi.
Images are more or less reverse chronological. They're now two weeks old and have gone from smaller than my lighter to the size of my hand. Kind of an amazing growth.
I have about 2 more weeks before I can start determining their sex.

Overall, I'd say yuudachi is the smarter one.yuudachi likes climbing up on my bed by using a small pile of blankets and a foot locker as a set of stairs

see you all in a few weeks again!