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.

 

[Debbie292d]

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".

Very welcome! Hopefully those three will make it to the end.

As for the "liquid" one, that one could have been unfertilized.