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112 POULTRY BREEDING 
an egg-producer, but it is too small to make it a possible 
rival in the food markets against the large Pekin. 
The houses for ducks need not be made as warm as 
for chickens, but they should be free from drafts. As 
ducks do not lay in winter and have no combs or wattles 
to freeze, they may. be allowed an outdoor run every day. 
Particular care should be taken to have the floor of the 
duck house dry, as ducks fall victims very easily to damp- 
ness in sleeping quarters, notwithstanding their aquatic 
nature. The floor should be kept covered with clean 
straw and this should be frequently renewed. Ducks are 
not bothered with lice and mites. They are free from 
such diseases as roup, catarrh and diphtheria. In fact, 
ducks are naturally very healthy and if they are given a 
good house where they can sleep on a dry floor and have 
a clean run they are not likely to suffer from any disease. 
Ducks should have water where they can get it to 
drink at any time, but it is not necessary that they have 
water to swim in, although if it is possible to have a 
small, rapid-flowing brook run through the yards it will 
be better. The great duck-farms on Long Island are so 
situated that the yards are built down into the water of 
an arm of the sea where the tide rises and falls, thus 
washing the yards daily, the clean sandy bottom of the 
inlet making an ideal place for ducks to bathe and swim. 
As ducks never lay in any certain place until they are 
ready to go broody, it is necessary to keep them inclosed 
in the morning until they have laid. Occasionally they 
delay this until late in the forenoon, and a small yard 
should be attached to their house so as to give them some 
liberty until they are let into the larger yards. 
In mating breeding ducks not more than + ducks should 
be used for each drake. Very often a drake will take 
