DUCK CULTURE IN CALIFORNIA 105 



must be fed heavier, as they soon get poor if not fed plenty. Pekin 

 ducks should lay from 75 to 100 eggs without stopping, but they won't 

 do it if not fed right. 



Don't forget that it requires good judgment in feeding breeding 

 ducks, you must keep track of the condition of the layers. 



There are fourteen different breeds of ducks in the United States, 

 but only three or four varieties are ever seen much of on this Coast. 

 The Aylestmry ,and Pekin stand first in favor, they are both good 

 layers and make excellent table fowl; the Muscovy has some friends, 

 but is generally fought shy of as being the mud hen of ducks. The 

 Indian Runner is much in favor as a layer of nice white eggs, though 

 not all Indian Runner ducks lay white eggs, for I have seen green 

 ones among them. But the Indian runner does not fill the bill for 

 green ducks; for this purpose there is none better than the Pekin. 

 And if you have Pekins, you will not be disappointed in the results 

 if you do your share. 



Duck eggs hatch best in the incubator at a temperature of 102 to 

 103 plenty high enough, and the 102 to 102^ will give better results 

 than the higher figures. 



Carry them for two weeks at 102, the third week sprinkle the eggs 

 once a day when you take them out to air and turn, and increase the 

 temperature to 102%; the fourth week, sprinkle the eggs morning 

 and night; the last four days before closing up the incubator and 

 when you do close it up, increase the temperature to 103 and do not 

 let it get under that until all are hatched. 



Brooding Ducklings. When they hatch, put in brooder and give 

 warm water to drink in a vessel that they can't get into with anything 

 but their bills. 



Watch the ducklings for about two days and teach them where 

 to go for warmth, then, when they learn that, your troubles are 

 almost over. Ducklings are the easiest thing to raise in the whole 

 gamut of poultry, and the most interesting. But there are some 

 things that must be done, and a few that must not be done if 

 you want to raise them. The two most important things to do is to 

 be sure to serve water when you serve feed, because the eating de- 

 pends on the drinking. The water must be in a dish deep enough 

 to admit of the bill going in up to and over the eyes; if it is not, they 

 will get sore eyes and present a most pitiable aspect. 



The next thing to remember is that though water is essential, it 

 must be warm water for at least ten days. The reason for this is 

 that cold water causes cramps. 



Feeding the Ducklings. The very best feed I have found for 

 ducklings is Spratt's Chick Meal. Cracker crumbs are also excellent. 

 They come high, but will give your ducklings such a start that you 



