INCUBATION 



room will, of course, depend upon the number of in- 

 cubators to be installed and upon their make and 

 shape. Usually these buildings are constructed 

 with rather thick walls so that the temperature of 

 the room will fluctuate less with changes in outside 

 temperature. Provision is also necessary by means 

 of windows or other ventilating devices to provide 

 for good ventilation in the room. The cellars are 

 usually constructed with cement floors as moisture 

 is used freely and wooden floors would rot out 

 quickly. 



Incubator Capacity Required. The aim on com- 

 mercial duck farms is to hatch all of the eggs pro- 

 duced which are suitable for the purpose. Practi- 

 cally no eggs are sold except the cracked eggs or 

 those which would not give good results in the in- 

 cubator such as too large or too small eggs. Occa- 

 sionally, of course, there will be sales of duck eggs 

 in comparatively large lots for incubation purposes 

 where someone is starting a duck farm. Occasion- 

 ally also duck farmers buy from each other a few 

 eggs for incubation in order to secure new blood. 

 On the whole, however, practically all of the eggs 

 laid are incubated and it is necessary to have an in- 

 cubator capacity sufficient to take care of the eggs 

 as they are produced during the flush season. 



Since the egg production at this time will run 

 around about 80% and since the period of incuba- 

 tion is 28 days and a couple more days must be 

 allowed to take the ducklings out of the machines 



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