HATCHING AND BROODING DUCKLINGS. 29 



them in nests in the houses. If they have access to water they will oftener drop eggs in the 

 water where they are lost. For this reason ducks that have access to water should be kept 

 from it in the morning until the eggs for the day have been laid. 



Hatching the Ducklings. 



Where only a few scores to several hundred ducks are hatched hens or incubators may be 

 used as mo>t convenient. For larger numbers it will usually be found more satisfactory to use 

 the incubators exclusively. 



When the eggs are hatched under bens give nine to eleven eggs to a medium sized hen. The 

 number a hen can cover properly depends on the size of the eggs, and also on the season. If 

 eggs are very large it may be better not to give an ordinary sized hen as many as nine early in 

 the season. After the weather is warm a hen may be given a nest full, and often hatches just 

 as well when there are more eggs than she can fully cover, but in the winter and early spring it 

 is better to limit the number to what it is clear a hen can keep warm ail the time, for when 

 there are too many eggs in the nest all are likely to be chilled in turn and the entire lot spoiled, 

 when with a few less eggs in the nest a good hatch of strong ducklings would have been secured. 



When duck eggs are hatched in incubators the operation of the machine is varied in some 

 makes. In other machines a special pattern is made for duck eggs. The poultry keeper who 

 has a machine adapted to both kinds of eggs can learn from his book of instructions or from 

 the manufacturer or agent what special adjustments of it to make for duck eggs. In buying 

 one can ascertain to what extent a. machine under consideration is adapted to duck hatching. 



The period of incubation for duck eggs is twenty-eight days. Sometimes the ducks hatch 

 earlier, but it is preferable to have them go the full time. Unlike chickens/the little ducks pick 

 the shells quite a long time before they attempt to break out, usually thirty-six to forty-eight 

 hours. One inexperienced in duck hatching sometimes becomes alarmed about the ducks not 

 coming out promptly after breaking the shells and undertakes to assist them. There is no occa- 

 sion for this. As the ducks pick the shell so long before leaving it it is necessary to see that the 

 membrane does not have a chance to dry and adhere to the duck or become so tough as to inter- 

 fere with the hatching. In running an incubator the ventilation is reduced so much at the last 

 that the air in the egg chamber is saturated with water and the membranes kept moist. In 

 hatching with hens make sure that the hens are perfectly comfortable, and nests and hens free 

 from lice. Then the hens will not be likely to have the nest for long at a time. It is well also 

 to keep the hens confined to the nest as closely as possible after the eggs are pipped, though as 

 so long a time may elapse between the pipping of the first' egg and the exclusion of the last 

 duck the hen should have at least one opportunity to leave the nest in that time. The best way 

 is to let or take the hen off just about the time the first duck is due to push out of the shell; then 

 keep her on the nest until the hatch is over. It should be observed that the period of incuba- 

 tion is a full week longer than for chickens, and that this week, if the sitting hen is not in good 

 condition, is harder on her than all the rest. 



Brooding Ducklings. 



When only a very few ducks are hatched atone time, say, not more than two or three hens 

 can brood, hens may be satisfactory mothers, but as the number in a lot approaches the 

 capacity of a single brooder, it will be found much the more satisfactory way to use a brooder, 

 or as many brooders as are required. I think duck growers generally prefer to use the pipe 

 system of brooding if they have enough ducklings to use such a system. The brooder house 

 for ducks may be just the same as for chickens. 



The ducklings are not taken from the nest or machine until they are twenty-four to thirty-six 

 hours old. If they are to be brooded by hens the hens should be confined so that they cannot 

 roam about and wear out the little ducklings. After the weather is warm the ducklings may 

 be allowed considerable liberty, provided they are not disposed to wander too far, in whicb 

 case they should be restrained. Sometimes little ducklings but a week old, if free to do so, will 

 stray long distances. This must not be allowed if good growth is desired. It is a very simple 

 matter to confine the ducklings to any required spot, for a board ten or twelve inches wide, set 

 on edge and supported by pegs driven beside it will keep them in until they are some weeks 



