The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-05-05

RAISING DUCKS IN INCUBATORs
AND BROODERS.

During the first month after ducks
commence to lay in winter, few OF
their eggs are fertile, but afterwards
the fertility of the eggs increases, often
to as high as so per cent. and more,
until the end of the laying season,
which as a rule continues until July.
During the season ducks ley almost
every day, so that sometimes a flock
will average 100 eggs. On nearly all
large duck breeding plants, the hatch
ing is done with incubatOrs and the
raising in brooder houses. The Pekin
is the principal breed for the market
on account of its rapid growth and fine
appearance.
When starting an incubator that has
stood idle since the previous fall, throw
away the old wick, clean the lamp
thoroughly, put in fresh wick and oil,
and seq that the screen whichsurr2unds
the burner is free from dust, as, if the
small holes are filled with dust, it will
cause the lamp TO smoke. After the
lamp is properly trimmed, light 1t and
let it burn for some time before attach
ing it to the incubator. The chances
are that if the lamp is not overhauled,
it will smoke when started and fill the
hues with SCOT. If once this occurs
there will always be a bad odOr about
the incubator and the temperature will
never be as even afterwards ag the
SCOT Will interfere with the craft With
a little ere this can all be avoided.
The novice should run an incubator
empty until he becomes acquainted
with the adjustments; it is therefore 6
good plan to put only a few eggs in the
first time. Test the eggs on the sixth
day and keep the thermometer bulb
between two fertile eggs; pay strict at
tention TO this, as dead germs aremucb
cooler than live ones. Leave the doora
closed except when turning @ test ng
eggs. If the Matching is done with hene,
set two or three at one tine, then tes'
the eggs on the eixth Gay. Il may
happen that two hens will take all the
fertile eggs in the three nests. In the
early part of the season one hen can
cover all hat will be fertile in thethree.
After Matching put thtm ina dry place
and keep the men shut IN. If a breeder
with top heat is used, have the tempeEa
ture at 100 degrees when the ducks are
in; if bottom heat is used, the tempera
ture should not be over 80 degrees. Do
not feed too much corn meal, as it will
cause leg weakness and aft ct their
spine; feed largely of bran, midGlings
and but little corn meal. Ducks are
ravenous eaters; they are very fond OF
greens cut up fine in their feed, ard
young ducks should be fed four times
per day until they are five weeks old.
then only three times. Be very care
full about oyer feeding stock ducks, as
they are apt TO get very fat, in which
case their eggs will be iEfertile, or the
young ducks Matched from such egEs
will seldom be vigorous.
Ducks that are laying every day eno
are not fat TO begin with, arc not apt
to get fat though they are fed all they
will eat, but the greas & ficulty is that
breeding ducks are apt to become very
fat when not laying. Before the laying
season cones, they SHOULD not have
more than half the raticns they get
while laying every dag. TIE eggaf-om
ducks and hens which are ccmpsiled TO
hunt nearly aiI thew get to ag5. are al
ways fertile. There should be more
attention given to breeding stock dur
ing the season they are rot laying
This is the time to get stock il good
condition. Examine them frequently.
and il they show signs OF fat, feed les4,
and do not neglect the breed stock,
because the young broods r quire
special attention.-G. 4. McFetrIdge,
In American AgricuIturist.
WHERE THE AMATEUR ERRS.