Evening journal., 1921-04-16
RAISE POULTRY
IN SPRING time
Ducks Will be Found a
Good Side Issue on
General Farms
HOW TO CARE
FOR DUCKLINGS

. Although ducks do not appear 20
be as well adapted as chickens as a
source OF income to average farm
conditions, yet many farmers are
finding duck raising profitable as
.side issue to their other farm oper-
auons The demand for table ducks
in the cities seems TO be on the in
screase.
The period Of incubation for
ducks eggs is 2s days. except for the
-Muscovy duck. which is SO to 35 days.
The eggs may be hatched either nat
urally by hens or ducks or artificial
y in incubators. Strong. fertile eggs
are a prime essential to good hatch
ing and are obtained only from
stock properly mated and kept un-
der the best possible conditions 20
secure health and vigor.. Eggs from
-overfat breeding stock do not usu-
ally produce a large percentage OF
strong ducklings. Peking and In
.dian Runner ducks rarely set: con-
soquently. II natural methods Of in
cubation are to be used the eggs are
Susually hatched under hens Duck
eggs should be washed II dirty. for
IL does not appear to injure their
matching qualities.
Before setting a hen dust her
thoroughly with insect powder In
applying this powder hold the hen
by the feet, with her head hanging
down, and work IL thoroughly into
the feathers. giving special atten-
tion around the vent and under the
swings. Setting hens should be fed
whole or cracked grain. such as corn
or wheat Place 9 to IL ducks eggs
under a hen, depending on her size
and the season OF the year. using
the smaller number Of eggs in cold
weather and the larger number in
warm weather. Confne the hens at
Matching time and do not disturb
them until tho hatch IS completed.
. unless they become restless. when IL
may be best to remove the duck
: lings that hatch first.
Hens must be we'll cared for in
Matching ducks eggs, as the period
II incubation is a week longer than
that OF hens eggs. II usually takes
/. ducklings from "a TO as hours 20
hatch after they pick the shells
therefore, II is advisable 10 allow the
: hen TO get of the nest for feed and
water when the first duckhngs pick
the shell and then confne her to the
nest until tho Matching is over
Ducks eggs need more moisture
than hens eggs at Matching time, as
IL takes the ducks much longer 10
get out OF tho shell. Poultry spe-
cialists in the United States Depart
ment OF Agriculture advise. there
fore. that the eggs should be
sprinkled literally with warm water
previous TO Matching.
All duck eggs should be tested al
/ least twice during incubation, pre-
ferably on the seventh and four.
teenth days. and the infertile eggr
and those with dead germs removed
Dead germs in duck eggs decomposs
very rapidly and are often detected
by their odor and should be removed
from the incubator.
q. Duck eggs. having pure white
shells. can be tested as early as the
fourth or NTH day and the infertn,
.eggs sold TO bakers or used in the
kitchen.
Ducks are much easier to brood
-artihcially than chickens. but they
may also be raised under hens sue
cessfully. II raised by the latter
. method IL is advisable 20 confine tho
4 hens and allow the ducklings free
range as the hens are apt to wander
4 too far away with their broods.