20 HOW TO HATCH, BROOD, FEED AND PREVENT 



the hatch. Those 1,087 chicks were hatched with the temperature at 103 

 degrees. Then the chicks seemed awfully warm. There is where I have 

 made a mistake so many times, keeping too high a temperature at pipping 

 time. I sold those chicks. They brought me about sixty dollars; my eggs 

 cost me twelve. Not so bad for three weeks work, was it.? 



How to Hatch Ducks by Incubation 



r takes the same temperature and treatment for duck eggs as it does for 

 hen eggs, with the exception of moisture. Duck eggs require moisture 

 while hen eggs do not. You do not introduce moisture into your ma- 

 chine, however, till the second week of incubation. Then, about every four 

 days place a damp cloth (one thickness only) in the nursery or bottom of 

 your incubator, leave it there until it is dry, then remove it until the time 

 comes to replace it again. At pipping time shower the eggs and use the 

 burlap just the same as you do when hatching chicks. Do not use the 

 burlap for moisture during the hatch, as it is heavy and will hold more 

 moisture than is required. I use an open flour sack. I wring it as dry as 

 I can out of hot water. Watch your eggs at pipping time and turn all the 

 pipped eggs with pipped side up so they will not smother. Do not place 

 hen eggs and duck eggs in the same machine, as the treatment is different, 

 also the time. It takes three weeks for hen eggs to hatch and four weeks 

 for duck eggs, consequently the changes of the eggs take place at different 

 times. 



BROODING DUCKS Ducks do not need as much care as chicks; they 

 can stand more cold and wet. However, I keep them warm for a few days, 

 then let them run at will, but place them in a brooder at night, for rats, 

 skunks and weasles are death on young ducks. 



You can make a comfortable brooder for ducks out of a goods box. Just 

 remove one board, so as to give the top a slant, replace the top, saw the 

 sides even with the top, then take a piece of oil cloth or an old gram sack, 

 or even a piece of muslin will do. Cover with common barn paint. If you 

 put it on quite thick, one coat will do. I have made good coops for hens 

 and chicks in this way. 



The Pekin variety, above all others, seem to meet the market want 

 best. They are the most popular, as well as the most profitable duck we 

 have in this country. They are very large, creamy white, laying from 100 

 to 150 eggs each season. They are, as a rule, very easy to raise, mature 

 quickly, and are the leading variety for market; do not require water except 

 for drinking. Pekin ducks are, as a rule, very healthy, not being subject 



