DUCK RAISING ON THE FARM 



or a part of the poultry house may be utilized for 

 this purpose. No special requirements are neces- 

 sary except that the house should provide sufficient 

 ventilation. This is best furnished by means of a 

 window and in addition, an opening in the front of 

 the house should be provided which can be closed 

 by means of a curtain during severe winter weath- 

 er. A board floor is not necessary if the dirt floor 

 is filled up 6 or 8 inches above the ground level out- 

 side the house. The floors should be provided with 

 an abundance of litter which is usually changed only 

 once or twice during the year. As the litter tends 

 to become dirty more litter must be added. No 

 equipment is necessary in the houses as the birds 

 rest on the floor and lay their eggs anywhere about 

 the house or wherever they may make their nests. 

 The house should be so arranged that the ducks can 

 be shut in at night and can be kept there until they 

 have finished laying in the morning. As most of the 

 duck eggs are laid early in the morning they can be 

 let out by 8 or 9 o'clock in the summer. If let out 

 earlier than this they are likely to lay some of their 

 eggs in the pond or stream to which they have ac- 

 cess and these would be lost. 



Feeding. On many farms the breeding flock of 

 ducks is fed on the same ration which is given the 

 farm fowls. However, better results will be ob- 

 tained if they are given special feeds. After the lay- 

 ing season is over the breeding ducks can be fed 

 sparingly on a mash consisting of one part by weight 



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