384 THE RURAL EFFICIENCY GUIDE STOCK 



number of chickens. However, ducks cannot stand as much confinement as a 

 hen. They are more like turkeys in that respect. A single boarded shed from 

 12 to 15 feet deep, 7 feet high in front and 4 feet in the rear, made wind and 

 water proof by covering with prepared roofing, makes a suitable building for 

 this purpose. A good front is made by one window, covered with a good-sized 

 muslin curtain in front of each pen. The house should be well ventilated. The 

 floor can be of dirt raised 5 to 8 inches above the ground level, provided that 

 the soil is well drained, or board raised 6 to 8 inches above ground level and 

 covered with 3 or 4 inches of dry sand or earth. Partition must be from 2 to 

 2^2 feet high. For breeding ducks in houses, an alley is not required unless 

 the house is over 15 feet deep, but it is often used in growing pens and brooder 

 houses. The floor should always be covered with plenty of litter, as they do not 

 mind the cold if they can keep their feet warm. Cold feet affects a duck as 

 badly as a frozen comb does a hen. Ducks should be permitted to make their 

 own nest. They are likely to break their eggs unless nest boxes are used sim- 

 ilar to those illustrated. Six to seven square feet of floor space should be 

 allowed for each duck. The house should be as convenient as possible to save 

 time. Many people overlook the item of labor in raising poultry, and by doing 

 so materially reduce theif profits. 



Breeding. 



Selecting Stock. Only healthy, active, medium-sized females should 

 be used for breeding. Extra large specimens seldom prove as satisfactory as 

 do those of medium size, or a little larger. They should be matured and well 

 proportioned. Pick out ducks with short necks, flat backs, medium long bodies, 

 and of good depth to the keel bones. 



Caution: Avoid ducks with watery eyes as it is generally a sign of weak- 

 ness. Ducks should seldom be kept over two years unless they are extra good 

 breeders and layers. 



How to Tell a Drake. In the colored breeds the difference in the sexes 

 is easily told by the difference in plumage but in the white breeds the sexes are 

 of the .same color. However, the drake can be told in the white breeds as 

 he has a more masculine and coarser appearance, and two of his tail feathers 

 curl over into a short curl. Drakes cannot always be told by their tail feathers 

 as they sometimes get pulled out. A surer way is to notice the quack. A duck 

 quacks and has a deep bass voice, while the drake hisses and his voice is very 

 soft. 



Number of Females to a Male. Ducks are usually mated in flocks of 

 about 30 females with 6 or 8 males. One may reduce the number of males 

 about March 1st and again near the 1st of April, making the proportion after 

 the first reduction 1 male to 6 females and after the second reduction 1 male 

 for 7 to 10 females. The males do _not fight one another. 



Care of Breeding Stock. The stock is not seriously troubled by any 

 degree of cold, but if early laying is desired, the birds should have some pro- 

 tection from storms and should be kept out of drafts. The litter should be 

 kept clean and dry. The layers should be shut up at night or they will scatter 



