DUCKS AND DUCK-BREEDING. 307 

HATCHING AND REARING. 
By nature, ducks are not good mothers, and the best layers 
are late in desiring to sit. It would, therefore, be very risky 
to depend entirely upon them. As a rule, hens are employed 
for this work, but the eggs should be moistened every day 
when the hen is feeding. Otherwise there is danger, 
especially in a dry season, of death in the shell. Eight or 
nine eggs can be covered by a large bodied hen. Incubators 
are also largely employed, and the eggs should be moistened 
daily as already recommended. The period of hatching is 
twenty-eight days. 
Ducklings do not need brooding so long as chickens. 
They must, however, be kept in a warm place if taken from 
the mother when hatched under natural conditions, or live in 
a brooder for about a fortnight, though during mild weather 
the time may be shortened to ten days. They should be 
divided into flocks of about twenty-five each, and accommo- 
dated in small houses or in separate compartments of a larger 
shed. Under the last-named arrangements the divisions 
should consist of boards about two feet in height. [or 
twenty-five birds a house six feet by four feet is quite large 
enough, even when nearly at a killing age. In front of the 
louse or shed a small yard must be provided for feeding, and, 
where movable houses or sheds are employed, wire netting, 
two feet wide, held by stakes thirty inches long will prevent 
their egress. Ducklings which are intended for early killing 
are not given their liberty, and they thrive better for the 
short period of life if denied access to water in which they © 
can swim, but some breeders allow them to have an 
occasional bath. Where it is intended to grow the ducklings 
as breeding stock, freedom of range and access to water are 
essential to vigour of constitution, but in that case the growth 
is much slower. For the former purpose, especially during 
colder weather, they are kept in the house or shed for the 
greater part of the day, only going into the yards three times 
a day for feeding, when the straw upon which they rest is 
shaken up or renewed. Their place of abode must be kept 
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