II Dec, 1911-] Profitable Duck Farming. . 793 



A small dam or tank will suffice. Allow them access to it at least once 

 each day. 



Five to six ducks are sufficient for one drake, which should be of 

 another strain. 



The eggs are usually white ; but of late they show signs (A having had 

 an introduction of foreign blood, presumably Rouen, which has resulted 

 in thefr laying (sometimes) a greenish-coloured egg. The size of the egg 

 is on a par with that of the average Leghorn, i.^.,. about 25 ozs. to the 

 dozen ; the flavour is decidedly good. Unfortunately, their eggs, like 

 those of all other water-fowl, are not satisfactory when placed in pre- 

 servatives or cold storage. Thus, duck farmers are somewhat handicapped 

 when distant from local markets. 



Continued inbreeding cannot be too highly condemned. It results in 

 infertility ; in many cases in leg weakness, and in a gradual falling off 

 in the number and size of eggs laid. Xew blood is necessary at least every 

 second year. 



Incubation. 



When hatching ducks in a large way incubators should be resorted to, 

 as it is almost useless to attempt to use the duck, and broody hens are 

 often difficult to secure when wanted. The eggs will not keep so long 

 as those of the hen, being more porous. 



The best incubator is the celebrated English (Hearson's) pattern. It 

 has the tank, and being so perfectly ventilated allows free interchange of 

 gases. Hot-air machines, especially with duck eggs, are not as successful 

 as tank machines. Many failures in this State have been found where the 

 hot-air machines, lacking a moisture tray, have been used, the trouble being 

 that the ducklings die in the shells. 



In a report of the Biological Division of one of the E.xi)erimental 

 Stations in the United States of America appears the following dealing 

 with the moisture question : — 



An attempt h;is been made from the bej^inning of last year's experiments with 

 hot-air machines to render the moisture factor as uniform as possible. To effect 

 this the concrete floor of the basement has been constantly kept wet. A constant 

 supply of water w^as thus exposed to the atmosphere of the room. The air was 

 much improved bv this constant wetting in so far as its respirabilit^- is concerned. 



This being so, surely it is folly to attempt duck-raising in \'ictoria with 

 hot-air machines without the moisture-tray. The Victorian-made tank 

 machines are more than equal to any of the imported makes, and this is 

 especially so in regard to their incubation of duck eggs. Further proof 

 is given from New South Wales, where six machines were tested, two of 

 local make and four imported, the results being — .Australian, first and 

 second; and American, last. 



Temperature for Duck I'.ggs. 



Duck eggs re(|uire a little less heat than hen egg.s — loih fltg. is about 

 the right tem|)eratur('. They also need more moisture as hatching time 

 approaches, but not before. The moisture tray should be jilared in 

 machine .seven clear days prior to hatching, i.e., after twenty-one days. 

 Twenty-eight days are required for hatching most breeds of ducks, though 

 Mu.scovies take five weeks. It is absolutelv necessary to turn the eggs at 

 least twice each rlay after the third day. 



The cooling of the egg-drawer is beneficial to the embyro. The last 

 seven days the egg-drawer should W cooh-d daily for at least fifteen 

 niiiuit<'S many successful breeders c<mi| tlnni up to thirtv minutes — but 



