THE INCUBATION OF THE EGG 227 



cool place, and turned daily. Ducks' eggs will not keep as 

 well as hens^ eggs. 



In natural incubation the eggs are placed under a broody 

 duck in a nest on the ground or floor of the house. If placed 

 under hens, ten are about all that may be successfully 

 covered. 



When placed in incubators the care given duck eggs is 

 similar to that given hens' eggs except that the temperature 

 should be kept at 102 ° F. for the first three weeks. Special 

 duck incubators are manufactured, which have a larger egg 

 chamber than do those used primarily for hens' eggs. More 

 moisture is also required in the hatching of ducklings than 

 of chicks. Ducks' eggs should be tested for fertility on the 

 third or fourth day when developing embryo may be readily 

 seen. 



Incubation of Goose Eggs. — The first goslings should not 

 be hatched until the grass is green. Incubators have not 

 proved very successful for the hatching of geese, and it is 

 better to allow the geese to set or place the eggs under hens. 

 Geese will cover nine or ten eggs successfully, while hens 

 of the American breeds should not be given over three or 

 four in cool weather and five dr six in warm weather. The 

 length of time necessary for hatching varies from twenty- 

 seven to thirty-three days, but will average about thirty 

 days. 



When they are about due to hatch, if hens are used the 

 nest should be carefully watched and the first goslings taken 

 out as soon as they hatch, wrapped in a woollen cloth, and kept 

 in a warm place. They should be kept away from the iiest 

 until the youngest goslings are several hours old, when they 

 may be given back to the hen. If this is not done the hen 

 is likely to become restless and leave the nest with the older 

 goslings before the late ones are strong enough. 



They should be closely confined with their mother until 

 they are three or four days old, after which they may be 

 allowed at liberty with their mother in a grassy pasture. 



Most successful goose raisers make a practice of not allow- 

 ing the goslings in the water until they are full-feathered on 

 tbw breasts, Until they are fairly fully feathered they 



