260 FAVORITE BREEDS OF DUCKS 



cise, they should have all the food that they will clean 

 up. They also require a clean swimming hole or pond. 



Fatten them on clean, wholesome food, such as shorts, 

 boiled potatoes, ground corn or oats. Ducks are in great 

 demand when from two to four months old, if they have 

 been carefully fed. They are as profitable at this age as 

 later, for they are heavy feeders, and in fattening at the 

 age of eight or ten months they eat a lot of grain. Not 

 only is this the case, but at two or three months they com- 

 mand from 25 to 35 cents a pound, against 18 to 20 when 

 full grown. 



In fattening more mature ducks, whole corn or wheat 

 may be fed to some extent. Boiled potatoes, carrots, beets 

 and various other vegetables are excellent. Bran or shorts 

 moistened with skimmed milk also makes an economical 

 food. Articles of this kind save high-priced grain and 

 answer the purpose nicely in fitting poultry for the 



market. 



For the flock that is to be kept for breeding purposes, 

 more green food is necessary. Alfalfa, either whole or 

 ground, and corn silage, are recommended, with one 

 ration a day of wheat or corn. Always feed soft food in 

 long troughs, and have plenty of them, to avoid crowding ; 

 and when the meal is over, stand the troughs on end 

 against the wall to keep them clean for the next meal. 



While ducks are the healthiest of domestic fowl, espe- 

 cially if allowed considerable freedom in summer, they 

 require clean and comfortable pens in winter, with a rea- 

 sonable amount of room. It is bad policy to allow ducks 

 or other fowl to be disturbed by live stock. The laying 

 quarters at least should be free from noise and all other 

 disturbances. 



The opportunity is at hand for money-making from 

 ducks, as farmers are able to send dressed fowls to city 

 customers by mail, so that the usual trouble and expense 

 of marketing are eliminated. Fresh fowls may go daily 



