Hatching Call Ducks

[BantyChooks]

...an equally accurate title would've been "Banty's Lost Her Final Two Marbles".

Four Call eggs arrived in the mail today, despite my repeated vows to never hatch more ducks and particularly not Calls. I did a cursory check of the air cells; they're not the worst I have ever seen, but they aren't the best either. As I have only hatched ducks once before, and never bantam ducks, I would quite appreciate some advice on incubating them, particularly during lockdown and hatch. I'm quite excited! Even if these particular eggs don't make it, I will be trying again repeatedly until some do. I have all summer to cajole these little beauties into developing and hatching.

 

[Pyxis]

Good luck with them! Calls do best when incubated on their sides, so not in an upright turner. That would be my first tip Otherwise, they incubate pretty much the same as other duck eggs until it's time for the hatch.

 

[Silkie2005]

Good luck! Keep us updated!

 

[Old McRonald]

I've heard the same about incubating on their sides also. Others swear by opening the incubator for 10 minutes a day and misting them with water to simulate the hen leaving the nest and going for a quick swim. I like to weigh eggs of any type to monitor correct amount of weight loss [13%] of any kind of egg. Didn't get any shipped call eggs to make it to lockdown last year on their ends. Bought some pairs in the fall and have 15 eggs looking great on day 16 on their side.

 

[chickens really]

How exciting..
I start mine at 40% humidity. I lay mine on their side and turn 3 times a day. Lockdown at 60%.
I don't mist or cool down my eggs. I Candle Day 10 and then just keep an eye on air cells.
Good luck!

 

[BantyChooks]

Good luck with them! Calls do best when incubated on their sides, so not in an upright turner. That would be my first tip Otherwise, they incubate pretty much the same as other duck eggs until it's time for the hatch.

Thank you. This applies even to eggs with pretty severe saddles and loose edges?

Good luck! Keep us updated!

Thank you, I will.

I've heard the same about incubating on their sides also. Others swear by opening the incubator for 10 minutes a day and misting them with water to simulate the hen leaving the nest and going for a quick swim. I like to weigh eggs of any type to monitor correct amount of weight loss [13%] of any kind of egg. Didn't get any shipped call eggs to make it to lockdown last year on their ends. Bought some pairs in the fall and have 15 eggs looking great on day 16 on their side.

How exciting! Good luck.

How exciting..
I start mine at 40% humidity. I lay mine on their side and turn 3 times a day. Lockdown at 60%.
I don't mist or cool down my eggs. I Candle Day 10 and then just keep an eye on air cells.
Good luck!

I appreciate the advice. Thank you.

 

[Pyxis]

Thank you. This applies even to eggs with pretty severe saddles and loose edges?

Yep! I always do shipped Calls on their sides, unless the air cell is entirely detached.

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

Good luck with them! Calls do best when incubated on their sides, so not in an upright turner. That would be my first tip Otherwise, they incubate pretty much the same as other duck eggs until it's time for the hatch.

So I'm not the only one that noticed this.. I wondered if it was my incubator.

 

[BantyChooks]

Yep! I always do shipped Calls on their sides, unless the air cell is entirely detached.

One egg is detached about halfway down all the way around, but none are rolling.

 

[BantyChooks]

The eggs are set and my fingers are crossed. Is it lockdown yet??