■' ■ ■ ' ' 'VATER FOWL 247 



be given some help. In this respect they are less 

 sensitive than chicks. For at least 24 hours the 

 ducklings should be allowed to remain in the ma- 

 chine. When removed they should be taken to 

 brooders in flocks not exceeding 50. Forty would 

 be better. Management is practically the same as 

 for chicks, excepting that the ducklings, at first, 

 must be kept closer to the heat. Usually they will 

 not need heat after six weeks old when hatched in 

 the early spring.; three weeks will be all that is 

 necessary when the season becomes warm. After 

 weaning the management of ducklings is the same 

 no matter how raised. 



For market the ducklings should be confined in 

 smaller yards than for breeding purposes. They 

 may be fed more liberally of fattening materials. 

 .When about six weeks of age they may be put in 

 the fattening pens and fed a mixture of two-thirds 

 of cornmeal with equal parts of bran, middlings and 

 greens. To this 10 or 12 per cent of beef scrap may 

 be added. Preferably ducklings intended for mar- 

 ket should not be given water range. For breeders 

 ducklings should be given their liberty as soon as 

 weaned. Most commercial duck raisers allow the 

 ducklings to run together in close quarters until 

 they are old enough for marketing, then the best 

 are sorted out, the home flock given wider liberty, 

 a grass range or a pond, and encouraged to develop 

 strength rather than fat. 



SELECTION OF BREEDERS 



In sorting out ducks for breeders, females may 

 be recognized from the males as early as six weeks 

 old. When caught the ducks quack loudly. The 



