The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1904-06-15
Hatchinq Ducklines With Hens.


more people do not interest them
selves in so profitable an industry. 1t
may be that their few wants are not
understood, and many believe that the
idea of duck rearing cannot be enter
tanned unless one is prepared TO
launch Immediately into incubators
and brooder sheds, Now, where hens
are to be obtained for setting, there
is no doubt that they hatch much
better percentage of ducks than
good incubator; but the nest must be
sufficiently large and it must be
properly arranged; also the hen must
be kept quite free from insects as the
ducks eggs are much more easily
broken than either hens, goose's
or a turkeys. Where just d few are
required for the family table there is
no doubt that it is much better to set
eight or nine eggs at time under
hen. and hatch the ducklings out
week or so apart. They reach full
perfection at ten weeks, and if there
are a few always coming one batch
behind the other, they will not nave
time to moult and get out OF condl-
ton before they are required. When
making a nest for ducks eggs have
box 10 inches to two feet square.
There shauld be six inches OF moist
earth filled into it, and it should be
very slightly followed out toward
the center The whole box should be
SPRAYED with coal oil to prevent lice
from lodging in the wood, and the
nest itself, made of loose chaff. Some
golden pyrethrum (pyrethrum aur-
eum), should be added as insects will
not harbor where it is used. In fact,
if is the basis of most good insect
powders.
The eggs can easily be tested out
on the third or fourth day, and the
nests doubled up" that is, any partly
Matched may be added, but If one cold
egg is added to those already warmed
through it will probably chill all the
rest. Five days before the eggs are
expected to chip, each one should be
dipped into tepid water, once every
morning They must not be shaken
or allowed to remain under water Tor
more than two seconds at the OUTSIDE.
If an egg should be broken, the Whole
of the nest litter must be renewed,
and each egg carefully washed clean
with a nail brush and tepid water
They must be well rinsed, but need
not be dried, as it is almost impossl-
BILE to keep ducks eggs damp enough
If an egg appears notified and smells
strong it is safe to throw it away
One strong smelling egg endangers
the whole nestful. Sometimes the
eggs chip on the twenty-fourth day.
but as a rule the ducklings do not
appear till the 28th. When the bill
appears leave the ducklings entirely to
the hen. True that there is some
danger of them becoming crushed.
but if any newly Matched thing is
removed from the nest while there is
still a particle of egg not yet alb
sorbed, and the shell is still clinglng
to the little creature, it is as surely
dead as if it were killed then and
there, for they will not reach ma
turity. Also if the hen is kept dark
and free from insects, and has plenty
of room, and, more important than
all, has been removed from her nest
every morning for a good feed OF corn,
grit, and fresh water, | do not lind
that she will crush one duckling out
of five hundred. She may be reset
on more duck or goose eggs, as she
should not be allowed to brood young
ocnnoiaIIu If che ic ValII-