Incubating Call Duck and Runner Duck eggs...

[lindisfarne]

Hi there

was hoping for a bit of advice if possible. We bought 6 runner eggs last week and the couple we bought them off gave us 3 call duck eggs as an added extra!!

we couldn't really say no could we.......
Anyway, we have come to realise that the call ducks may hatch before the runners (we have heard 26 days for them as opposed to the 28 for runners) and wondered what to do when going into lockdown as both sets were put together on the same day in the same incubator...
We thought about slightly early lockdown for all eggs? or would this harm the runners? also worried that we'll have the call ducks ready to go into the brooder when the others are due to hatch and not keen on opening the incubator at this crucial time...?
Any advice would be really appreciated!
Thanks!

 

[AmberRex]

You probably know the answer by now because you posted around two weeks ago but when I hatched Pekin ducks I opened the incubator even during lock down without a problem just for a few minutes. The only thing to watch would be the humidity but when we hatched earlier this year three started to come four days early and are doing fine so I suppose if you simply play it by ear and trust your instincts then you should be O.K.. Good luck! And if you have already hatched, congratulations!

 

[lindisfarne]

Hi there

thanks for your reply! In the end, the call duck eggs didn't seem to develop fully...but we have 2 runners hatch today! 2 days early! fingers crossed for any other hatches.....

 

[AmberRex]

Hi there

thanks for your reply! In the end, the call duck eggs didn't seem to develop fully...but we have 2 runners hatch today! 2 days early! fingers crossed for any other hatches.....

Congratulations!