From page 37
are not as popular as hens ' eggs because they don ' t keep so well. The shells are more porous that chickens ' egg shells, and more likely to become contaminated by bacteria. If they are collected soon after lay, kept clean and stored in a cool place they will keep for seven to ten days. Compare this with chickens eggs that may be stored chilled for three weeks. Egg laying begins at about 16 to 18 weeks of age. Most eggs are laid at night, so it is best to collect the eggs between 0900 and 1000 if you can. This is also important because ducks lay their eggs randomly, often in( none too clean) mud. Collecting them early, and washing them well, minimises the chances of harmful bacteria seeping through the relatively porous shells and contaminating the contents. A female duck may be left to
Pekins enjoying a splash in a baby’ s bath sit on her eggs to raise only half of the hatched ducklings. Several ducks may ducklings eventually surviving. To compensate, some lay eggs in one nest, but it is best to confine sitting ducks people put the duck eggs separately, otherwise there under a broody hen who may be squabbles about usually does a good job of it whose eggs and ducklings ~ even if she does become they are. anxious when her ' chicks '
Ducks are not often good eventually take to the water, mothers. They may sit on 20 leaving her fretting on the eggs but hatch only half, with bank of the pond.
WATERFOWL
Or, duck eggs can be successfully incubated artificially, and the ducklings raised in a brooder. Remember that very young ducklings with down are not waterproof and can drown easily. The table duck can be almost half grown by about four weeks of age, and it can have reached its table weight of 3kg by about nine weeks of age, but generally free range ducks take a few weeks more to reach this weight. Like chickens, ducks are divided into bantam, light and heavy breeds, with the heavy breeds being better suited to the table and the light breeds providing the high egg layers. Probably the most common breeds in South Africa are Welsh Harlequins and Pekins. ❑ Welsh Harlequins: These are utility ducks, providing good meat and eggs. They are very attractive. The male
Continued on page 40
39 www. sasmallholder. co. za