Incubating posted Call duck eggs

[UKDuck]

Hi folks,

I am not new to hatching waterfowl, but I've never incubated call ducks. I've read so much about difficulties in hatching these kind of ducks that I am a little concerned.

To cut the story short, I've got 4 hatching eggs arrived today via the post, currently resting the pointy end down prior to being put into an incubator. At least 3 of them have got detached air cell and one is badly scrambled.

I am going to use my trusty Borotto Lumia 8 incubator that turns the eggs by tilting them (not actually turning), so they remain the pointy end down at all times before the lock-down. My questions is whether to use the advice from internet and switch off the "tilter" for the first 5 days or not. I guess that the advice assumed that the eggs are on their side rather than upright. I wonder whether this would make a difference.

What are your thoughts/experience?

 

[Debbie292d]

The advice not to turn for the first five days applies to all shipped eggs, and no matter what type of incubator or turner. It gives the air sacs a better chance to settle. That is just a suggestion that some do.

I do it myself for shipped eggs, but only for two or three days.

 

[Luv Ducks]

I was able to hatch out two of my own Call Duck eggs from my Calls last May. I ended up assisting both of them out of the eggs as their little bills were not able to break through the shells. I have never dealt with shipped eggs however. I used an incubator that laid the eggs down and rolled them back and forth several times a day. I did this until the final couple of days of lockdown. I kept the humidity at a guess and the temperature almost at 100 but they lived and are both just fine. Good luck with yours.

 

[UKDuck]

Thank you @Luv Ducks and @Debbie292d. I put the eggs in now and switched the "tilter" off for a couple of days. Checked this AM and the 3 are more or less stabilised, but one is just "liquid".

 

[Luv Ducks]

Thank you @Luv Ducks and @Debbie292d. I put the eggs in now and switched the "tilter" off for a couple of days. Checked this AM and the 3 are more or less stabilised, but one is just "liquid".

You are most welcome. I pray that the others make it.