NATURAL LAWS. 4 



blood warm. Ducks are very hardy but cannot stand get- 

 ting wet while they are very young. A wet duck before 

 three weeks of age is generally a dead duck, but when their 

 feathers are out they like the rain and wet. 



Ducks for Market. 



Never let young ducks go in a pond if you are going to* 

 market them. They fatten better and grow quicker without 

 water, but you must have a pail so that they can put their 

 entire heads in water when they are five weeks old. This i& 

 to clean their eyes and bills. 



Never keep feed in troughs or it will sour. Clean out- . 

 the troughs every day in warm weather, Sour food will 

 kill a duckling. 



Keep forty ducklings in one pen, say 10x40 or larger, 

 and a shed to go under for shade. Keep a dry place for them 

 at night. Pekin ducks lay about 100 eggs per season and a 

 White China about 140 per season. The eggs hatch about 

 the same as hens eggs, as regards fertility, but it takes- 

 twenty-eight days to hatch them. 



Breeding ducks should be let out every day in the year 

 and their houses should be well aired. They should not be 

 too closely housed. Lots of air means success in this busi- 

 ness, and foul air and wet houses means failure. Try to 

 keep the yards and houses ciean. Clean out at least once 

 every week and throw air slacked lime all over the yards 

 and houses. 



Sore eyes in ducklings is caused from filth, and want of 

 grit, and proper watering dishes. The dishes must be deep 

 so they can stick their heads in the pail over their eyes. 



All told, keep ducklings dry, feed green food, lots of air 

 and shade. Don't let them paddle in the water all day while 

 young. Not too much cornmeal while young, no sour food r 

 and you will have solved the problem. 



Be careful in salting foods. Use about one handful of 

 salt to a 200 pound mash, and only salt once a week. 



