Some questions about hatching call ducks

[Diamond88]

This is great info! All seven eggs (one extra) arrived last night and appear to be viable. I can't stop staring at them in the incubator. Unfortunately, all three of my thermometers give different temperature readings, but I'm playing it safe and trusting the two that match most closely. When it comes to temperature changes, cooler is preferable to warmer, correct? This afternoon the temp spiked to 100.5, so I cracked the incubator open just a tiny bit for a short while and now I'm stabilizing it again.

Thanks again for the information. I'll post updates and questions as they arise.

 

[Kiril749]

Hi there

Actually in a still-air incubator the temperature should be between 101 and 102 measured just about at the top of the egg.....my Little Giant said 99.5 but everything I've read and experienced that is not warm enough. Maybe others will disagree but I have some call ducks hatching right now (I'm listening to them peep right now in the shell) on day 26 and my temp was 101.5 the whole time. Just a suggestion.......

Good Luck

 

[Diamond88]

Oh no! I hope I haven't ruined my eggs! Can anyone else weigh in on this? What are other people's experiences with still-air incubators? Thanks for the info, Kiril.

 

[country_girl011]

Oh no! I hope I haven't ruined my eggs! Can anyone else weigh in on this? What are other people's experiences with still-air incubators? Thanks for the info, Kiril.

i use a still air.
my temp stays at 100 f.
and humidity between 30-40%
im also hatching calls.
and have been having great luck with it.
altho every hatch has been assisted im having major shrink wrap issue even with lockdown humidity at 80%

 

[Diamond88]

Okay, maybe I will raise the heat slightly. I'm definitely concerned about shrink wrapping, although at this point, I'm just taking it one day at a time and hoping that I even get to the lockdown stage. This is my first time hatching eggs, so I don't have any prior knowledge to apply. I'm only going by my research and what I'm learning through BYC. Hopefully the temperature won't be an issue!

 

[PoultryGirly]

How did your hatch go?

 

[Diamond88]

Thanks for checking in with me, ChickenPerson! Out of seven eggs I only got one duck, but that's okay because she's my little sweetheart and I couldn't be happier! Various threads around here, especially one called something like, "Da Cute and Cuddly Call Ducks Thread," will have plenty of photos of her. Right now, I'm moving across the country with her, interestingly enough. I admit, the poor girl is pretty bored these days, sitting in a storage container in the back seat of my car while I drive from Chicago to LA. But as I type this, she's having a good time playing with her toys in the hotel room in Flagtstaff, Arizona.

 

[PoultryGirly]

Do you think I should try to hatch some calls? I have a pair of call ducks and a mallard female already.

 

[Diamond88]

It's stressful, but if it interests you, I say give it a try. Just do plenty of research first. Because call ducks are bred to have short beaks and thin necks, they often have trouble hatching on their own and need to be assisted. Definitely read into that before attempting! But if you do your research, there's no reason why you shouldn't try it. I've never had ducks before, but I bought those seven call eggs and got one duck out of it, which I guess is pretty good.

 

[Annemarie]