I know someone that bought 18 eggs online and only got 2 to hatch. You would have to keep a close eye when hatching time comes and possibly have to put a tiny hole in the egg once it has internally pipped. After a day or so if it is still struggling to get out I would make the hole bigger and make sure there is no veins left or that the duckling is not chewing to absorb its yolk and then help it out if necessary. I ordered my two Call ducks from Metzer Farms. I had them pinioned, got the colors I wanted which is Pastel, Got a female and a male. The female had issues starting out with a pasty butt and I had to work with her in order for her to make it by cleaning her all the time and finally getting the plug out of her that was stuck in her and she has been fine ever since. Good luck with your decision.
Thank you! Glad she’s be better and I also am gonna buy from Metzer Farms
You are most welcome and Thank you. I really like Metzer's. I have bought twice from them now. I got my Mallard ducklings almost 4 years ago from them and they were supposed to pinion them so that they would not fly away but someone forgot. I used to clip their wings but don't have to anymore because they know where they have it made, lol. Call's can fly very well. I got two drakes from CL and one had bad Angel wing so it couldn't fly and the other one is too fat to fly so I have been fortunate there. I have heard of people saying they lost their's due to them leaving them though so that is why I had my two from Metzer's pinioned. It's really cheap and where I live if they flew into the neighbors yard they would be eaten by their big dogs.
Yes I have researched about pinioning and even do my own when getting them before 3 days old. What I have found is that the nerve endings do not reach the tip of the wings until they are beyond that age and when I have done it myself the ducklings do not even flinch. I have never had one cry out in pain or act distressed afterwards. There has never been any infection or problems either and I can't even tell it has been done after a couple of days at the most. I would never do any of my older birds as I have seen people do that and I do feel that is cruel. I am older and not able to catch my birds to clip and when I do have to catch one of them they all go crazy and fly into the fencing and can get seriously hurt that way. Sometimes we have to weigh the odds in order to keep our birds safe. This is why I prefer to have mine done and don't have to worry about them flying into the neighbor's yard and get eaten by their huge dogs. I respect your opinion though as we all have our own different circumstances.
Sounds good. I tend to worry when pinioning gets mentioned, so I’m glad you make an informed decision.
