POULTRY-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., {9 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 (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 Breepinc Duckxs.— Duck houses are built on the same general plans 
as houses for chickens. Either of the houses shown in Figs. 1 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. 11 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 {t. 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 too 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 
