MANAGEMENT OF DUCKS 151 



ponds only during the molting season, when they can be allowed 

 to run in large flocks and a small area of water will serve for 

 all. For a time after the large inland duck farms were first 

 established it was claimed by many that ducks grew faster when 

 not allowed to swim than they did when allowed to follow their 

 natural inclination to play in the water. No doubt some ducks 

 which were in dry yards grew better than some having access 

 to large bodies of water, and on the whole as good ducks 

 were grown on the inland farms as on those near the water, 



FIG. 138. Quarters for breeding stock on an inland duck farm. Swimming 

 tanks in the yards 



but it has long been known that it is much easier to manage 

 the ducks when they have water in their yards. There are two 

 reasons for this : in the first place, they are much more contented 

 in the water ; in the second place, they feel very much safer 

 on the water when anything alarms them, and will keep quiet 

 on it when, if they could not retreat to the water, they would 

 rush about in a panic and many would be injured. 



Ducks are very timid and easily panic-stricken. The duck 

 grower has to take every possible precaution to guard against 

 disturbances of this kind, because ducks are so easily injured, 

 and even if they are not hurt, a sudden fright will make them 



