7^ Money in Broilers and Squabs. 



CHAPTER IX. 



Pointers on Duck Culture, and Experiences by the Most Extensive 

 Duck Raisers in This Country. 



Provide shade. Too much exposure to the hot sun is fatal to 

 young ducklings. 



Do not feed whole grain. 



The duck usually lays at night. 



Never let the supply of drinking water run out. 



Ducks require soft, succulent food. 



The foundation of success lies in the breeding stock. 



Vigorous stock can be profitably bred at four years of age. 



Fifty per cent is a good average hatch early in the season. 



The bulk of failures is due to use of weak breeding stock. 



From July to September prices for green ducks remain un- 

 changed. From September to November ducklings again bring 

 good prices. 



Green ducks at eight weeks old should weigh nine pounds to 

 the pair. 



Do not allow the ducklings to get wet before they assume their 

 white feathers. 



Whole grain is apt to produce leg weakness, and the birds 

 break down and die. 



Do not forget that a duck cannot well eat without having water 

 to drink with it. 



At ten weeks of age, ducklings should weigh from lo to ii 

 pounds to the pair. 



Green ducks bring the best prices about May ist. From then 

 on until July the price gradually falls. 



George Pollard, of Pawtucket, R. I., prefers ducks and drakes 

 in their second year for breeding. 



Clean sand should always be mixed in the food of old or young 

 ducks. About a handful to a half bucket of feed. 



George Pollard feeds his ducklings, the first four days, two- 

 thirds bran, and one-third cornmeal, mixed with cold water or skim- 

 milk. 



A good mating is a drake to four or five ducks in the early part 

 of the season, and six to seven ducks to a drake during the summer. 



Always keep a trough of cracked oyster shells before the breed- 

 ing ducks. 



In dressing ducks, dipping the hand or fingers into a dish of 

 water, causes the feathers to stick to the hand, and enables one to 

 remove them more rapidly and with much less exertion. 



