COMMERCIAL DUCK FARMING 



much better to run them in pens of 100 each. In 

 fact, some breeders do not place more than 25 to 50 

 breeding ducks in a pen. 



Incubator Capacity. Incubators are used exclu- 

 sively for hatching the eggs. At the present time in 

 practically all cases some form of hot water mam- 

 moth incubator is utilized for this purpose. An in- 

 vestment is required both in incubators and in a 

 cellar in which to operate them. In figuring on the 

 incubator capacity necessary to take care of a prop-, 

 osition of this size, it is necessary to base the esti- 

 mate on the number of eggs produced during the sea- 

 son of flush production. The duck raiser figures on 

 incubating all eggs suitable for the purpose rather 

 than to sell any of them for other purposes as there 

 is a greater profit in rearing and marketing the 

 ducklings. For that reason he must have incubator 

 capacity enough to take care of all the eggs laid at 

 any time of the year. During the season of flush 

 production the yield will ordinarily run in the neigh- 

 borhood of 80%. The period of incubation is 28 days 

 but 2 days more should be added to this to allow for 

 cleaning out the machines, etc., before starting an 

 other hatch. This means that there would be 30 days 

 between hatches. Figuring on 800 duckswithan80% 

 production for 30 days an incubator capacity of 

 around 19,200 eggs would be required. 



Brooder Capacity. A brooder house capacity, 

 where artificial heat can be supplied, suflicient to 

 take care of about half of the total output of the 



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