PO UL TR T- CRAFT. 235 



would find it advisable to run a duck business on a one man scale. Where an 

 exclusive duck farm will pay it must be on a larger scale ; elsewhere generally 

 duck growing must be carried on as one branch of a combination.* 



345. Ducks Adapted to All Sections. Sites for Duck Plants and 

 Houses. The information given in Chap. II., ^[ 18, 20, 21, 23 26, applies 

 generally to duck culture. Exclusive duck farming can be made profitable 

 only near a large city, where there is good demand for ducks. A few ducks 

 can be profitably grown almost anywhere. As has been intimated, the duck 

 growers, like the breeder of high class chickens (f 19), awakens interest in 

 and creates an ever-increasing demand for his product. 



Though water fowls, ducks need a well drained soil and dry houses. For 

 breeding ducks a pond or stream of water is an advantage, but not absolutely 

 necessary. Natural shade is desirable. If there is none, artificial shade must 

 be provided, for ducks are extremely sensitive to the heat of the sun. 



346. Houses and Yards. 



FOR BREEDING DUCKS. Duck houses are built on the same general plans 

 as houses for chickens. Either of the houses shown in Figs, i and 4, would 

 make a good house for a small flock of ducks. For a very small flock a good 

 sized coop may be used. The coop shown in Fig. 46, would do very well for 

 a few ducks and a drake. On large plants the houses are usually built on the 

 continuous plan, (see Figs, n and 12), modified to suit the ducks and the 

 methods of duck keeping. The pens for ducks are generally larger than for 

 chickens, and as it is desirable to have them as nearly square as it is practica- 

 ble, most duck houses are wider, though some narrow houses are in use. 



On one of the largest duck farms the pens are 15 x 20 ft., in houses 18 ft. wide, 

 and of such lengths as are desired and the " lay of the land" permits. These 

 houses are 6 ft. high at the back, where the walk is, and four feet high in front ; 

 with double pitched roof 12 ft. to the peak. In the south side (front) of each 

 pen are two half-windows and a door to give the ducks access to the outside 

 runs. In the north wall, opposite the middle of each pen, is a half-window 

 for ventilation in warm weather. The partitions between the pens and between 

 pens and walk are of boards, and are about 30 in. high. In the partition 

 between each pen and the walk is a gate wide enough to admit a wheelbarrow 

 when the pens are to be cleaned. In feeding, gathering eggs, etc., the gates 

 are not used ; the attendant easily stepping over the partitions. About forty 

 breeding ducks are kept in each pen. The yards connecting with the pens are 

 20 ft. wide by 100 ft. long. 



* NOTE. In most places poultrymen growing both chickens and ducks, will usually 

 find the latter more profitable as long as their home market is not over-stocked; especially 

 is this true of those producing for a family trade. To illustrate : A plant having an 

 annual capacity of three thousand table chickens, old and young, may have trade that 

 will take only twenty-five hundred fowls at profitable prices. There is then no object 



