BROODING AND REARING YOUNG STOCK 



condition. If the duck has a good smooth breast so 

 that the breastbone is not felt when handled and is 

 well fleshed on the back it is ready to kill. If it is 

 not in this condition it is thrown out and these thin 

 ducks are returned to the yards for further fatten- 

 ing or are utilized for shipping alive. Thin ducks 

 are generally used for live shipments as they will 

 not shrink as much as well fattened ducks. 



Cripples. There will always be found in the 

 flocks more or less crippled ducks and those with 

 crooked backs, twisted wings, etc. As a rule ducks 

 with twisted wings fatten well and are in good con- 

 dition and can be killed about as soon as any of the 

 others. The crippled ducks are sorted out into a 

 lot by themselves where they are held until they can 

 be put into condition to market. It is doubtful 

 whether it pays the duck growers to bother with 

 these ducks since they are rather difficult to condi- 

 tion and it would probably pay better to kill them. 

 However, it is quite common practice to carry them 

 until they can be marketed. 



Cleaning the Yards. The yards must be cleaned 

 whenever they need it. It is a matter of judgment 

 to decide when this is necessary but they must be 

 cleaned whenever they get sticky or sloppy. The 

 weather will have a considerable influence upon the 

 frequency of cleaning which may be necessary once 

 in two weeks, or in the yards of brooder houses Nos. 

 2 and 3 may run as often as once a week. In dry 

 weather the yards are cleaned by sweeping up the 



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