242 PROFITABLE POULTRY PRODUCTION 



should not be given before the second week. After 

 they are two or three weeks old raw cornmeal, 

 moistened with milk or water, may be fed, also 

 scraps from the table. When scraps are fed the 

 ducklings may be given some fresh animal feed, 

 chopped cabbage, turnips, etc. Liver and lights are 

 very good when finely mixed. Ducklings and older 

 ducks do better on soft feed than on grain. In the 

 soft feed should be some grit not too fine. Grit 

 should also be within reach at all times. 



LOCALITIES FOR DUCK YARDS 



.Where one is situated on a tidewater stream or 

 cove he should take advantage of the opportunity 

 to raise ducks. There is in such a situation a con- 

 stant succession of sea food which the ducks can 

 secure with every ebb of the tide. All that is neces- 

 sary is to supply a house or a pen on the shore, 

 hoppers with ground grain and drinking fountains 

 for the ducks to help themselves. When such are 

 supplied the ducks will come home every night 

 without trouble. Usually duck eggs are laid at 

 night or in the early morning, and where the flock 

 is properly managed there will be little danger of 

 loss from laying in the water. If desired, the ducks 

 may be kept shut up until, say, lo o'clock, by which 

 time practically all the eggs will have been laid. 



Next to a tidewater situation comes a marsh, a 

 stream or a pond, especially a marsh through which 

 » stream flows. The ducks will pick up a large 

 portion of their living, but in the absence of any of 

 these advantages the farmer may easily keep ducks 

 without trouble. He may make an artificial pond 

 \ioT the ducks to paddle in. This may be in any 



