20 



House for Ducks. 



Any kind of a house will almost do for ducks, but it must 

 be dry and snug for tbem in winter months, and during the 

 breeding season. It is always well to supply plenty of room so 

 that the ducks are not overcrowded. The accompanying illustra- 

 tion is extremely useful ; it provides eight large pens, six of 

 which are 9 feet by 9 feet, and two 18 feet by 9 feet. The par- 

 titions dividing the pens are 3 feet high. The enclosure is 27 

 feet by 18 feet. The outside measurement of the building, which 

 is of wood, is 36 feet by 36 feet, height at ridge 8 feet, and at 

 eaves 6 feet, and the gates, which are double, are 7 feet wide. 

 The doors are 5 feet by 2ft. 6in., over which and right along 

 the top of the house, under the eaves, is run a piece of strong 

 wire netting, 1 foot wide, thus giving abundance of light and 

 ventilation. The floors should be kept clean and dry. The roof 

 can be covered with bark or palings. Of course, this plan can be 

 made larger or smaller according to the size required by the 

 breeder, and it should be of great advantage to those living in 

 districts where the fox or other pests abound, for the ducks will 

 be safe from the ravages of all vermin when housed in a building 

 such as that illustrated herein. 



DUOK-PONDS. 



For the breeding stock some kind of a duck-pond should be 

 provided, as it is required to insure good results in the hatching 

 of eggs, which are always more fertile when this plan is adopted. 

 It is advisable to keep the ducks closed in a suitable shed at 

 night, as they usually lay at this time or early in the morning. 

 Young ducks should be kept away from the ponds if they are 

 intended for market purposes. 



Hatching Ducklings. 



The best methods to adopt in hatching is to set the eggs under 

 hen turkeys or common hens ; incubators can be profitably em- 

 ployed. Moisture should be freely supplied in very warm weather. 

 "When the ducklings are hatched they can be removed from the 

 mothers to suitable boxes, each to contain a clutch of about a 

 dozen birds. These boxes should have straw on the bottoms or 

 some substitute to impart warmth. These are all that young 

 ducks require, and such will act as foster-mothers. The nests 

 employed should be the same as those previously described for 

 hatching chickens. The best time to begin hatching is August. 



