DUCKS AND GEESE 



lights have also been used to some extent during the 

 late fall and winter for the purpose of inducing egg 

 production earlier than the natural season. As a 

 rule the ducks can be started to laying about 4 

 weeks after turning on the lights but the average 

 production under this system is not likely to run 

 more than 60 eggs for the season as so handled they 

 moult quite early in the spring. A single 25 watt 

 light is sufficient for a house or pen 16 x 24 feet and 

 the lights are left turned on all night. 



The object in feeding and caring for the breeding 

 ducks is to keep them from moulting and to keep 

 them laying as long as possible. It must be remem- 

 bered that any radical change in feed or manner 

 of feeding, shutting them up too closely, change of 

 temperature, or other disturbing conditions are 

 likely to cause moulting and. to check egg produc- 

 tion. Any change in feed must be made carefully 

 and gradually, not suddenly. It must also be re- 

 membered that ducks are excitable birds and must 

 be handled and driven carefully so as to disturb 

 them as little as possible. 



t Time of Marketing Breeders 



The breeders should be turned off to market when- 

 ever their egg production drops off so decidedly that 

 it no longer pays to hold them. In most cases this 

 will be about the 1st of July but it may range con- 

 siderably earlier than this, especially with pens of 



68 



