66



Mr. Herbert K. Job,



fortably warm to the hand, w 7 as dashed over the eggs. They were

then turned, the other side sprinkled, and then placed back in the

machine. Two towels were then soaked in quite hot water and

placed, almost dripping, on the tray below the eggs. In cool weather,

when the temperature was slow in recovering, the regulator was shut

down temporarily, to hasten matters.


As soon as any set of eggs showed signs of hatching, it was

removed to the second incubator, which was run at 104 degrees,

which was maintained till the hatch was complete. The ducklings

were kept in the machine from twenty-four to thirty-six hours after-

hatching. Owing to lack of brooder facilities, we sometimes used

the third incubator for another day or two as a brooder, keeping the

door ajar and the temperature from ninety to ninety-five.


After our first hatch no more occurred for nearly a week.

Then business came with a rush, on July 8th, a memorable day. On

the seventh three sets had begun to pip, one each of Redhead, Lesser

Scaup, and Pintail. This morning, as I went forth to hunt Ruddy

Ducks’ nests, two little Redheads were already out. At dinner time,

when I returned successful, the batch was actively in progress, the

eggs popping almost like corn over a fire.


It was so exciting and fascinating that we both let dinner

wait and sat in front of the machine to watch, How they did come!

First the shell was chipped nearly round. Pulsations more and more

violent ! Off bursts the larger end of the shell. A few more struggles,

the head is out; then again, and the soaking little novice tumbles all

over himself and everything else. Getting his balance, he takes a

look around, and immediately goes to preening, as though his mother

had previously whispered to him just what to do.


The afternoon was still young when the hatch was complete.

Of twenty-four eggs, only three had failed to hatch — one infertile,

one with dead chick, and one rotten. One set, the Scaups’, hatched

every egg. Our next hatch, a set of Redhead, on the eleventh,

yielded another one hundred per cent, as did next day a set of what we

hoped were Baldpate or American Widgeon, but which proved to be

Gadwall. By this time it seemed so natural to hatch every egg of a

set that we were surprised and even a hit regretful if even a single

egg failed. As, for instance, on the twelfth also, when our small set



