Shipped call duck eggs, broody hen, detached air cells AHHH

[Doc McCluckins]

Yesterday I received 6 call duck eggs from e-bay. My intentions were to place them under a broody hen per the advice of the seller as calls are harder to hatch via incubator and I have a hen dying to hatch something. Upon arrival I candled them and discovered all but one have detached air cells. From what I have read if they were to be incubated they would need to remain upright. What should I do now. I don't currently have an incubator set up although I have a Sportsman Incubator, Model #1502 arriving this week hopefully. It will be new to me as well. Any advice greatly appreciated.

 

[Fields Mountain Farm]

Oh dear... Maybe @Ravynscroft can give you some advice. If not she will know what who can. Best of luck!

 

[Ravynscroft]

Call duck eggs DO NOT do well incubated upright... they are always best done laying on their sides...

Are the air cells fully detached? Does the air cell roll freely around the entire egg, or is it still partially anchored at the top of the egg?

 

[Doc McCluckins]

It stays mostly at the top of the egg but it does move pretty freely. I don't think it will go completely to the side.

 

[Ravynscroft]

Sounds like saddled air cell, not fully detached... can you mark around the air cells to show where the edges are?

 

[Doc McCluckins]

I definitely can later today and try to get pictures!

 

[Ravynscroft]

Sounds good! Looking forward to seeing the pics....

 

[Doc McCluckins]

Most of them look like one of the two eggs above

 

[Ravynscroft]

View attachment 1090286 View attachment 1090287
Most of them look like one of the two eggs above

That is saddled, only partially detached... if they don't roll completely to the other end of the egg if you turn it upside down, then I would put them under your broody...

 

[Doc McCluckins]

I'll put them under today. Anything else I should know?