Artificial Incubation.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 31 May 1911, Page 4

Artificial Incubation.

OK VA'Cii |.;c;r;s

Ducks' ("/<;,<, n>.|iiire If: s hsal unring their p.Hi:.:l of incubation than liens' i> ; ™>. Whilst the i;>mp.vnt'lure in the inc-uhator 'iriii!:!. lor tlu l latter, he "10'.i <u- 101 degrr'-e.s, that for the- i'onncr should not 102, apart from ihe !a:-t I': ,v days of incubation, when th? tvinpor.-'itii/o will naturally iskp. and is a gwid sign that then- is life in th;> Ducks' fggs are generally s-uppr..s:-d io requite a great deal of moisture during inruibation. hut this is !>v no means correct. Tho eggs, -up to the 26th day, need nr> more moi.stuiv than hens' eggs, b'nt after that tiin? they are benefited by an application of moisture, as this softens the shells and their lining niebVanc.s. and renders them easy of breakage by the imprisoned .ducklings. The egg* should not b-;- sprinkled to nioistem them, as such a procedure lias a chilling effect upon them. Neither should they l>? floated in hot water unless a small niiiniber of *v<rg.- ; are to be dealt with, as the operation is liable to 'oeri:ipy too much time for the well-being of the inmates. The host way to moisten duta' eirgs in an inenbator is to dip a piV<-e of flannel into wafer heated to 10.j dsgrees, and h> wring it o.it till no water exudes from it. and to place it over the eg*s in tho drawer of the incubator. Thei'e it should stay for lo minutes to allow of tlie moisture being drawn into the •oi.ws. One application will generally be fraud sufficient to bring incubation to a successful JS.SUC. AVlren the flannel is removed from the the drawer of the incubator should be quietly, closed to prevent the from I>ocoming sudden Iy. o;ii11 rd 7