hatching 22 shipped call duck eggs! 8 left.

[bellah1]

I had the exact same problem with my shipped Aussie spotted duck eggs, only one developed at all & it has a saddle air cell, all of them had detached air cell & now my little one that made it is going into lockdown on sunday. I am going to paste sallys advive on here, she is the person who wrote the article & started the diary & notes air cell detached shipped eggs. shes awesome & if she doesnt have the answer then usually someone else on the thread does. i also am going to attempt to paste the link for that thread too..... https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...ell-detatched-shipped-eggs/6410#post_10600826

 

[bellah1]

Here is the advice sally gave me about mine.........I would set directly in a carton with bottoms cut out and place in the bator to beging the process, fat end up of course.and keep them in the carton (carton flat) DONT TURN or touch them for 48-72 hours and then start tilting. Tilting GENTLY 45 degrees until your 21 day candle and then if any are viable and air cells are attatched I would lay them on day 25 for hatching. I would try to candle in the carton without handling them too much too. at least till day 10. Good Luck with them!

Ive been using a fat book under my bator to tilt for turning, just alternate the side of the bator left then right that you put the book under. And it is important to cut out holes in the bottom of your carton for each egg to breathe so if you have anything under them inside the carton I would take it out. also I don't know if you have ever hatched call ducks before but since they are so small & have such small bills they have a tendency of developing and then having troubles hatching. According to all the call websites bantam duck breeds like call hatch after about 26 days, but some people swear they take 28 like the rest. I guess they always come when they are ready. I did a lot of research and decided to do lockdown two days earlier than with regular ducks like all the show call duck breeders do. So let me know how they develop & good luck!

 

[iluvsedward]

This will be my first time hatching calls. I've tried to hatch mallards once but did everything wrong! they didn't even develop (they weren't shipped but maybe they weren't very fertile as well.)
other then that I've never hatched ducks, but I've hatched quail, chickens, guineas and even abandoned wild wren eggs! I have lots of experience with assisting and know exactly how to do it so thats good. I have a question though, how long from the time they pip should I begin to help??????????????

 

[iluvsedward]

Oh yeah good news!! I candled the one with the good aircell to make sure its aircell was still ok, and I think i might just have seen some development! its hard to tell though and I didn't see veins so only time will tell!

 

[bellah1]

You really aren't going to to see much until day 5 but don't give up on any until at least day 10. I've never hatched calls before but had to assist a bantam duck once so I'm really not one to give advice but I give them at least 48 hrs. But there are so many factors to when to help with duck eggs, like if the membrane becomes really white ect then it needs a wet Qtip or antibiotic ointment (with NO painkiller) to rehydrate the membrane or it will get stuck. There is a good thread on it I will paste it on here for u. I really have been doing a lot of research on the Internet and books for my next batch since calls are harder to hatch than any other bantam duck.

 

[iluvsedward]

You really aren't going to to see much until day 5 but don't give up on any until at least day 10. I've never hatched calls before but had to assist a bantam duck once so I'm really not one to give advice but I give them at least 48 hrs. But there are so many factors to when to help with duck eggs, like if the membrane becomes really white ect then it needs a wet Qtip or antibiotic ointment (with NO painkiller) to rehydrate the membrane or it will get stuck. There is a good thread on it I will paste it on here for u. I really have been doing a lot of research on the Internet and books for my next batch since calls are harder to hatch than any other bantam duck.

I know that ducks take longer to hatch then chickens so that will be hard for me, I just hope I dont try to help to early. Will neosporin work?

 

[bellah1]

I know I'm worried about that too with calls its just that they are the hardest duck breed to hatch since they are breed for their small bodies & head, little necks & bills. So when It is time just look for the signs & remember they do get quiet and rest after zipping. Sally sunshine wears by the antibiotic ointment (with no painkiller) because you don't have to keep reapplying like water to rehydrate and it gives you a very clear view of the veins duckling and membrane. I am serious about that diary & notes of detached air cells of shipped eggs thread, go on there & ask them these questions they all know so much and will really be able to help during hatch time.

 

[iluvsedward]

Oh yeah I know they're good if they zip!! I'm just hoping they'll pip! We just built a new pen for the duckies and cut the legs off an old rabbit hutch as a coop. If these don't hatch I'll either have to drive reaaaaallllllly far for some poor quality calls or get mallards. They were expensive so they better hatch!!!

 

[iluvsedward]

Oh yeah I know they're good if they zip!! I'm just hoping they'll pip! We just built a new pen for the duckies and cut the legs off an old rabbit hutch as a coop. If these don't hatch I'll either have to drive reaaaaallllllly far for some poor quality calls or get mallards. They were expensive so they better hatch!!!

 

[3BirdGirlz]

You live in the same state as Funky feathers here on BYC. She has awesome call ducks. She doesn't sell much for eggs, but if yours don't hatch, you should ask her about some. Her website is funkyfeathers.com