MANAGEMENT OF DUCKLINGS FOR STOCK 33 



Killing and Dressing. 



The methods of killing, dressing, cooling, and packing ducks for market are the same a? 

 given for poultry in Lesson XX., First Series, but a duck is much harder to pick by any 

 method than a chicken. It is a slower job and one that requires patience. 



Growing Ducks for Stock. 



The ducks that are to be reserved for stock purposes should be reserved from either the early 

 spring hatches or from lots hatched not later than May. Good ducks often come from later 

 hatches, but systematic selection from the best lots is the only way to keep up size and stamina. 

 The best duckmen select what they need of the finest April and May ducklings, and separating 

 them from the market lot at the age when fattening begins, continue them on such a ration as 

 has been used for growing them, at the same time giving them more room with access to grass 

 and water range. As vhey approach maturity the proportion of meat in the ration is reduced. 

 Often it is completely eliminated for a time; because if continued it gets the ducks to laying 

 earlier than is desirable. A "maintenance ration" only is given through the fall unti. the 

 ducks are put in breeding houses at the beginning of winter, when rations for breeding stock, 

 as given earlier in this lesson, are given them. It is not desirable that the ducks should lay 

 much before December 



