Money in Broilers and Squabs, 89 



James Rankin says of duck culture: Independent of the ele- 

 ments, affected neither by floods nor draught, heat nor cold, a con- 

 centrated cash product turned every three months — it makes the 

 best of any crop on the farm. 



In young ducklings, says Mr. Pollard, in Reliable Poultry Jour- 

 nal, overheating causes leg v^reakness, giddy, whirling spells and 

 spasms — and ends in the bird throwing itself on its side and dying. 

 While shade is an absolutely necessity, they must also have a chance 

 to get as much sun as they require. They will suit themselves ac- 

 cording to their needs when sufficient opportunity is provided. 



Referring to hatching duck eggs, James Rankin, in "Artificial 

 Incubating and Brooding," says : "See that the heat in the egg 

 chamber is uniform. Use accurate glasses, and place them on the 

 eggs in the centre of the egg chamber. Run them at 102 degrees 

 the first two weeks, and 103 after the animal heat begins to rise. 

 The eggs should be cooled a little once each day after the first week, 

 and longer after the animal heat rises. A little moisture should be 

 used after the i8th day, ventilating a little more towards the end 

 of the hatch." 



Geo. H. Pollard, in "Artificial Incubating and Brooding," says r 

 "When the eggs begin to hatch let them strictly alone. Do not try 

 to turn the pipped sides up, and, above all, do not open the machine 

 every few hours to see how they are getting along, or to show in- 

 quisitive friends how cunning the little dears look coming out of the 

 shells. After the hatch is fairly well over, and the ducklings nearly 

 or quite dried off, open the machine and quickly take out a tray 

 and cover with a thin woolen cloth. Look the eggs over carefully, 

 and if any are discovered cast in the shell, or with head lightly 

 caught, break away enough of the shell to allow the little bird some 

 freedom of movement and return the tray. Frequently these birds 

 will break through and prove as lively as those earlier hatched. Do 

 not, however, help too much. There is always a percentage of ill- 

 hatched chicks that live only long enough to count one hatched, 

 and then die with their duty fully done." 



James Rankin, in the Feather, says : "The amateur can de- 

 pend on one thing, and that is, that a well-bred Pekin duck is under 

 perfect control, and if she does not promptly respond to generous 

 feed, care and treatment, there is something wrong about it. I have 

 never found it to fail in an experience of nearly 40 years." 



Geo. H. Pollard says eggs that produce 65 to 8b per cent, of 

 strong fertility, according to the season, are good ; 70 to 75 per cent, 

 is excellent. 



The brooding pen should be 7x10, including the hover; the 

 hover, 2x7 feet. The floor should be earth with about an inch of 

 good beddin-g on it. 



Too much moisture is as dangerous in hatching duck eggs as 

 it is with hen eggs. 



Rankin says, in hatching duck eggs, it is always best to intro- 

 duce a little moisture just before the hatch. 



