POULTRY NOTES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 67, 27 September 1939, Page 7

POULTRY NOTES

BREEDING AND REARING DUCKS While ducklings may be hatched later tlian chickens, it is advisable not to leave Ihem too late iL' the be:;t re.sults are to be obtained. When: selecting breeding ducks the same care and attention should lie exercised as is given to the selecting of any other breeding birds. Firstly, purity of blood and then vigour and constitution, arc essential characteristics which must be given every consideration. Physical activity is the outstanding indication of vigour arte* constitution. It' egg production is the chicf object a selection .should be made ot those birds which possess large, bold, prominent eves set high up in the head, for it is seldom that ducks with eyes set low down in the side of the face are good producers. The neck should be fairly fine, and the body a good length, with width across the back. Two year old ducks mated to wel? matured drakes at least ten months old should give good results,. Generally speaking, from six to seven ducks to each drake of the Indian Runner and Khaki Campbell breeds and four to live ducks to each drake of thd heavy breeds should give good fertility. IX CUB A TION PERIOD. Muscovey duck eggs take from 35 to 37 days to hatch, ana duck eggs or other breeds '28 days, although many eggs chip about the 2fith day. Eggs for hatching should be selected with care, and only those o.? good shape, colour, size and texture of shell should be set. As duck eggs Jo not keep as well and lose -iheir fer-< tility more quickly than hen eggs, they should lie set as soon after being laid as possible —within a week if possible. When liens are used for hatching purposes it will be found that flroivs nine to eleven eggs will be sufficient to place under each hen. Better results will usunlh- be obtained if hens are set on the ground, and if the weather is dry it is advisable to sprinkle the eggs and dampen the •ironnd around the. nest every second day during the last work of incubation, but care should be taken not to overdo tills sprinkling, especially during damp weather. .ARTTFICIAL IXCUB ATTON. \e n rule duck eggs require a I it'll e less heat and ventilation during 111'- fir.d" week and more ventilation and moisture during the last week of incubation than that allowed when hatching hen egg's. A temperature of 102 deg. F. for the first week, 103 ;leg. F. for the remainder of the period, and 101 cleg. JF 1 . (not higher)when they start to chip has given good results. It is a good practice to spray the eggs once each day during the last 10 days with a little warm water (fibout 103 deg. F.). This may be dene with the mouth or with a small brush. Care should he taken to see that the eggs are not chilled when spraying. If the eggs are cooled at night, then spraj* in the morning or vice versa. Ventilation is very important and it is not possible to state how much is required with each machine in all districts. However, it may be said that after the first 10 days the ventilators may be gradually opened, and once tile eggs begin to chip the ventilators may be opened wide. BROODING DUCKLINGS. Provided ducklings are brooded in dry, clean, and warm' sleeping quarters, they arc not difficult to rear, but they must have the conditions mentioned. Many young ducklings are lost each year, and the first unfavourable symptoms noticed arc watery or sticky eyes. The trouble is usually the result of the ammonia from damp dirty bedding material and from' Avant of proper ventilation in the brooders. Again, many are lost. from blind staggers, a condition AAdiich is usually caused by giving the ducklings a drink and a feed at the same time after they have been too long Avithout Avater. If it is found that thendrinking vessels are empty at feeding time it is better to giA T e them a drink before feeding, and if the morning is cold it is adA r isable to take the chill off the writer. 'Ducklings do not require artificial heat for as long a period as chickens, but they need much the same treatment as chiekcns at first. However, as previously mentioned, thev must' be provided Avith clean, dry bedding: material and wcll-vcntilated sleeping quarters.