240 PROFITABLE POULTRY PRODUCTION 



agement, especially feeding, they attain their 

 growth in four months, though under commercial 

 conditions they are marketed at two or three 

 months. For best prices August and September 

 is the favorable season when one has access to 

 summer resorts. During October and November 

 later broods may also be disposed of at a profit, 

 but for the ordinary farmer it is best not to keep 

 ducks for a later market unless they have been 

 hatched late in the season. If ducks can be hatched 

 during March they may be disposed of at good 

 prices during June or even earlier. 



Ducks need no more water than chickens until 

 the}^ are three months old. Neither pond nor 

 stream is necessary until the ducklings have their 

 feathers. In fact, until the ducklings are wrell fea- 

 thered, it is best that they be not allowed to get 

 their down wet. For this reason their drinking 

 fountains should be such that the little ducks can- 

 not get more than their bills into the water. Thrifty 

 ducks can easily be raised on a yard one-quarter 

 of an acre in extent. When properly treated they 

 should be no more troublesome than little chicks. 



Hens, especially the more docile breeds, such as 

 the Cochin and the Brahma, make excellent mothers. 

 'Another advantage of these breeds is that their 

 large size enables them to cover several more eggs 

 than Plymouth Rock and AVvandotte hens or hens 

 of the lighter varieties. They will easily cover 

 nine or ten eggs. If set very early, however, they 

 should not be given quite so many unless their 

 quarters are warm. No special remarks need be 

 made concerning the hatching of eggs under hens. 

 The period of incubation is 28 days. The eggs 

 should be aired oftener and longer than hens' eggs 



