INCUBATION 



creasing trade in baby ducks. They are handled and 

 shipped about the same as baby chicks. Baby ducks 

 are ready for shipment as soon as they are thor- 

 oughly dry, usually about 12 hours after the hatch 

 starts to come off. They are neither fed nor watered 

 before shipment and are packed in cardboard boxes 

 used in shipping baby chicks. As a rule the ship- 

 ping boxes will accommodate about half the num- 

 ber of ducklings that they will chicks. Of course the 

 outside temperature very largely governs the mat- 

 ter of the number to a compartment. In warm sum- 

 mer weather, a two compartment box intended for 

 50 chicks will accommodate 26 ducklings if well 

 ventilated at the sides and top. They are shipped 

 by parcel post and can be sent anyTvhere within a 

 radius of one thousand miles if the trip does not re- 

 quire more than 36 hours. For best results the duck- 

 lings should not be allowed to go much beyond this 

 length of time before they are fed. On receipt they 

 should be placed immediately in a brooder already 

 prepared for them. 



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