84 INCUBATION 



The eggs of all kinds of fowls are more apt to be 

 fertile during the spring and early summer than at any 

 other time. Fertility begins to decline with the com- 

 mencement of molting, and during the fall and winter 

 the production of fertile eggs is at the minimum. The 

 average production occurs in Jan. or soon after. 



Period of Vitality in Eggs. Fresh laid eggs hatch in 

 fewer hours than eggs that are kept 2 wk. or longer 

 before the process of incubation begins. After eggs 

 are 4 wk. old it is not safe to rely on their vitality 

 being sufficient to produce chicks that will grow to 

 maturity, although in some cases eggs 3 mo. old have 

 produced chicks that grew to maturity. Fresh-laid eggs 

 from fowls of all kinds hatch in fewer hours than 

 eggs that are kept for any length of time. 



Eggs for hatching that are moved or turned about each 

 day can be safely kept for 14 da. 



Average Period of Incubation of Eggs. The average 

 period of incubation of eggs is as follows: 



Days . 



Fowls, medium and large-sized breeds 21 



Bantams and other small breeds 19 to 20 



Ducks 28 



Muscovy duck 35 



Muscovy duck crossed with Pekin or 



other drake 32 



Geese 28 



Turkeys 27 to 29 



Guinea fowls 28 to 30 



Pheasants 24 to 25 



Peafowls 27 to 29 



Pigeons 17 



Swans 35 to 40 



Ostriches 40 to 42 



Selection of the Sitting Hen. Cochin, Orpington, Ply- 

 mouth Rock, Rhode Island Red, and Wyandotte hens 

 are the best for hatching purposes. The quiet hen . 

 that will sit contented en the nest until her work 



