INCUBATION 93 



the hen to the nest she should be placed on the edge of 

 the nest and be permitted to settle on the eggs as she 

 will; she should never be forced or hurried. 



Period of Incubation. Fresh-laid eggs hatch in fewer 

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

 incubation begins. After eggs are 4 wk. old, their 

 vitality will probably be insufficient to produce chicks 

 that will grow to maturity. In some instances, eggs 

 more than 3 mo. old have produced chicks that grew to 

 maturity. These eggs, however, were unusually strong 

 in vitality and were cared for in the most careful man- 

 ner prior to being placed under hens for hatching. 



Fresh-laid eggs, if placed for incubation within 24 or 

 48 hr. of laying, will hatch in from 8 to 12 hr. less time 

 than eggs that were older when placed for incubation. 

 Eggs for hatching may be safely kept for 2 wk., pro- 

 vided they are kept where the temperature is even and 

 about 55 F. Such eggs should be moved about a little 

 each day. The more vigorous the hens that lay the eggs, 

 the stronger will be the vitality of the eggs. Such eggs 

 will keep longer for hatching and will produce stronger 

 chicks than eggs laid by less vigorous hens. The aver- 

 age period of incubation of eggs of several kinds is as 

 follows: 



Days 

 Fowls of 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 



