BRIGGS' SYSTEM OF 



DUCK CULTURE 



Believing- this book may fall in the hands of many 

 who raise a few ducks, and possibly in the hands of 

 some who may raise thousands annually, and as I have 

 raised from five to ten thousand yearly for many years 

 very successfully, until I now am able to raise every 

 duck hatched that has strength enough to eat and 

 drink. 



I will take up the care of the breeding stock, as 

 the foundation of success all lies with the breeders. 

 First, you must select your breeders and in every 

 case they mu'st be young ducks. 



Never keep an old duck over the second year, 

 for they will not lay before February, as a rule, while 

 young ducks start in December, if properly fed and 

 housed-. I prefer breeders hatched in April to any 

 other month, as they get fully matured early in the 

 Fall and are hatched from our strongest eggs. 



All breeders should be hatched from April 15 to 

 May 15, and such ducks should begin to lay in Decem- 

 ber. 



Your breeding ducks can be kept very light dur- 

 ing September and October. Do not let them get to 

 poor, for if you do, you may lose some. 



If you are on a farm you can give them range and 

 but little feed. A mash of wheat bran and gluten 

 meal, equal parts, makes a very cheap feed to Sum- 

 mer them on. 



About November first, you must begin to feed 

 them up and house them, if you wish to get early eggs. 

 This is where the profit comes in. Give a mash, 

 morning and night, from November first on, as fol- 

 lows. One part bran, one part middlings, one 



