WILD DUCKS 159 



possible, throughout the process. Two pans of water, be- 

 sides wet cloths, are used. The hygrometer reading is kept 

 up to 75 and to 90 if possible. The higher the elevation 

 of the locality, the harder it is to keep up a high degree of 

 moisture. Before hatching begins, the water should be re- 

 moved from the bottom of the machine, so that the ducklings 

 may drop down there and dry off. The tray and shells 

 should be removed after hatching, and the young left in the 

 machine for the above-mentioned period. Where hens are 

 employed, the handling should be as described for gallina- 

 ceous birds, never relaxing guard against insect pests and 

 vermin. 



The incubator can be used as an adjunct to the hens. 

 When a set is pipped under the hen, it may be transferred to 

 the incubator, running at 104, and the eggs allowed to 

 hatch. This will save the trampling of the young or their 

 being crushed against the unhatched eggs. A few poultry 

 eggs can be given to the hen to keep her sitting. 



c. Methods with Young 



First Handling. When the hen is hatching she should 

 not be lifted from the nest, as she is liable, in settling back, 

 to crush the young. Eggshells should be removed by put- 

 ting the hand carefully under her and raising her slightly. 

 If the incubator is used just for the hatching period, when 

 the ducklings are dried off they should be put under the hen, 

 so as to learn to brood before being taken to the field. If 

 several broods hatch at the same time, the young can be 

 divided equally among the hens. 



The methods in general are similar to those described for 

 young quails, the coops and apparatus being the same. The 

 ducklings are transferred and handled as there described. 

 If the weather is cold or wet, they should be kept in the coop 



