DUCK RAISING ON THE FARM 



Hatching the Eggs. The period of incubation for 

 duck eggs ranges from 26 to 28 days for all of the 

 breeds except the Muscovy. In this breed it takes 

 from 33 to 36 days for the eggs to hatch. Inasmuch 

 as most of the commonly kept breeds are not very 

 broody and therefore do not make reliable hatchers 

 and mothers it is necessary to resort either to the 

 use of chicken hens for this purpose or else to utilize 

 incubators. Either one of these methods can be used 

 with good success. With the small farm flock it is 

 very common to utilize hens. The ordinary hen will 

 be able to cover 9 to 11 duck eggs to advantage de- 

 pending on her size and upon the season of the year. 

 In cold weather the smaller number should be used 

 rather than the larger number. Before setting the 

 hen she should be thoroughly dusted with insect 

 powder to free her from lice. Several hens can be set 

 in the same room but they should be confined on their 

 nests allowing them to come off only once a day for 

 feed and water. Cracked corn makes an excellent 

 feed for sitting hens. If desired Muscovy, Call, East 

 India, Mallard, Wood or Mandarin ducks can be al- 

 lowed to make their nests and to hatch their eggs as 

 they are reliable sitters and good mothers. 



After the duck eggs first pip there usually elapses 

 a longer period of time before the ducklings get out 

 of the shell than is the case with chicks. For this 

 reason it is well to take the hens off for feed and 

 water when the first eggs are pipped returning them 



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