II Dec, 1911-] Profitahle Duck Fanning. 787 



Size and Height of Pens. 



A pen 40 ft. X 20 ft., if properly looked after, will accommodate 25 

 birds. The height of the wire need not be more than 3 ft., even a 2-ft. 

 division will suffice; but a wide mesh is necessary, as too often, when a 

 narrow mesh is used, birds are strangled — they get their heads through 

 and are unable to withdraw'. Three-inch wire mesh is cheaper and much 

 safer. 



Ducks cause little worry in penning. They are far more contented 

 in confined runs than are fowls, and do best in lots of not more than 25, 

 as they ha\e a bettter chance of securing their fair share of the mash. 



Selection of Stock. 



When the pens and houses are complete, select the stud birds. If 

 inexperienced, seek advice, otherwise serious mistakes may be made at 

 the oullset. The stock birds should be selected both for size and egg pro- 

 duction. It would be utter folly to breed from what are termed 

 " Puddlers," weighing from 3 to 4 lbs. live weight. 



Large well-formed stock .should be purchased, two years old for pre- 

 ference; the drake should never be less than nine months and unrelated. 

 Should one have only young ducks, then secure an older drake. This 

 class of stud birds will produce large and quickly-maturing ducklings 

 weighing, when ten or twelve weeks old, 12 to 13 lbs. per pair. 



Much depends upon the feeding, and ducks recjuire forcing to get 

 them up to this weight. If the ducklings are scantily fed, they will be 

 stunted in growth, and at ten weeks will not weigh 8 lbs. a pair. This 

 is important, for after eleven weeks they commence to throw off the downy 

 feathers and their growth is checked immediately. The food given for 

 the next four weeks is merely utilized in the production of the adult 

 feather at the expense of the body, and much of the profit is lost. IsJeep 

 them growing as fast as you can, so as to secure the desired size before 

 the youthful feathers give place to the ariult quill feathers. The poulterer 

 prefers to pluck the young feathers ; the work is easier, and there is less 

 likelih(Xj(l of tearing the skin. 



Water, (irit, Etc. 



Ducks that are kept for egg production slimild not l)e allowed free 

 access to creek or dam. Kggs or flesh is wanted ; anil, if the birds are 

 constantly swimming and drinking, the food passes through them too 

 rapidlv. Hut it must not be thought that ducks only require a drink once 

 or twice dail\. ("lean water should always Ije kept in a shady spot, and 

 the drinking vessel S(hould be 7 or 8 in. deep, sufficient for them to 

 dip tln'ir heads well in and to enablr tluin to wash out their eyes — a 

 shallow n-o'ptai. le is useless. Coarse sand should In- i>ut in ihe water; 

 the (lurks enjoy it, and it is g«JO(l for them. 



Crushed oyster shell, and pieces of broken- up mortar are the best forms 

 of grit, and a.ssist in the making of the egg shell. Powdi-red burnt lime, 

 (•ind«Ts, anil (•hare()al are .Uso g(X)d for the purpose. Ducks consun e much 

 more grit tli.in fowls, and they jjrffer old mortar toanUhing els<-. 



I" COS. 



As th<' first five eggs laid are usually infertile, tlK-\ should be used for 

 culinary purposes; reserve the .subse»iuent eggs for the broo<lv hen or 



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