POULTRY RAISING DUCKS nsr, 



their eggs all over the place. They may even lay them in a pond and they \\ill 

 be lost. The eggs should be gathered early in the morning. Ducks lay early 

 and the eggs may freeze. They should have their liberty during the day. It 

 is not necessary for them to have a pond to swim in, but a good swimming place 

 seems to increase the fertility of the eggs. 



Incubation. 



Time Required. The eggs of all breeds of ducks require 28 days for 

 incubation, except the Muscovy duck which requires from 30 to 35 days. 



Eggs for Hatching. The first eggs the duck lays, if confined and fed 

 rather stimulating feeds, seldom hatch well. 



Eggs for hatching must be fertile and strong. They can be made this way 

 only, by having the stock properly mated and full of health and vigor. 



Eggs from overfat breeding stock, seldom produce a big percent of strong 

 young ducks. 



If the eggs are dirty they should be cleaned. Washing does not seem to 

 injure their hatching qualities. 



Hatching With Hens. Practically all duck eggs not hatched in incu- 

 bators are hatched under hens because ducks do not make satisfactory setters. 

 Before a hen is set she should be thoroughly dusted with insect powder. If 

 several hens are sitting in the same room they should each be confined to their 

 nests and let off once a day for feed and water. If a large number of hens are 

 used for hatching, as many of them as possible should be set at a time, and the 

 ducklings raised in brooders. Hens must be well taken care of in hatching duck 

 eggs because they have to set a week longer. After the ducklings pick the 

 shells it generally takes from 24 to 48 hours for them to hatch. For this reason 

 it is best to allow the hen to get off the nest for food and water when the first 

 duckling picks its shell and then keep her on the nest for the remainder of the 

 hatch. The eggs should be sprinkled with warm water previous to hatching, 

 because ducks' eggs require more moisture than hens' eggs at hatching time. 



Number of Eggs to a Hen. Put about 9 eggs under a hen in cold and 11 

 in warm weather. 



Artificial Incubation. The main points on incubation are given in the 

 chicken department and we will not repeat them here. We shall only mention 

 a few special points which apply directly to incubating duck eggs. 



Temperature. An incubator is generally kept at a slightly lower tem- 

 perature in hatching ducks' eggs than in hatching chickens' eggs. It should be 

 run at 103 degrees the first three weeks and 104 degrees the last week. 



Supply Moisture. It is always advisable to supply moisture by: 



Introducing a pan of water, a wet sponge, or a dish of moist sand below 

 the egg tray. 



Sprinkling the eggs with water heated to about 100 degrees Fahrenheit. 



Soaking or sprinkling the floor to the incubator room. 



Placing a pail of warm water under the lamp. 



Keep Machine Closed at Hatching Time. The machine should be shut 



