BROODING AND REARING YOUNG STOCK 



may cause cripples. To keep them quiet it is com- 

 mon to use lights at night. Formerly lanterns were 

 used but now on most duck plants electric lights are 

 available for this purpose. For a house 140 feet 

 long, six 15-watt lights scattered at equal intervals 

 will be sufficient, and these can be used in like pro- 

 portion for houses of other lengths. The lights are 

 left on all night. Even when the ducks are half 

 grown and may be out on the yards it is still neces- 

 sary to use lights on stormy nights so that they will 

 stay in and keep quiet and not get drowned in the 

 rain. With a 16 x 24 foot house such as described 

 previously, a single 25 watt light is sufficient. Duck- 

 lings are especially likely to be stampeded during 

 thunderstorms and if a storm is coming up it is well 

 to turn on the lights and to shut the ducklings in 

 their shelters when they are first placed in the 

 yards. One should not carry a lantern when mov- 

 ing among the ducklings at night as this will cause 

 moving shadows which are very likely to frighten 

 and stampede the birds. 



Pounds of Feed to Produce a Pound of Market 

 Duck. It is stated by long established duck growers 

 that from 5 to 7 pounds of feed is required, this in- 

 cluding the feed given to the breeding ducks for the 

 season, to produce a pound of market duck. 



Water for Young Ducks. Drinking water is pro- 

 vided to the ducklings while in the brooder houses 

 by means of a piped supply. The drinking pans are 

 filled at each feeding time but at no other time. 



