82 Money in Broilers and Squabs. 



Ducklings should be started in the brooder at a temperature o' 

 about loo degrees, and gradually reduced in about four days to 8c 

 degrees. Sixty degrees will be warm enough at two weeks of age. 



"Ducks love to be out in the rain storm," writes W. R. Curtiss 

 & Co., "and we think there is nothing that will help increase egg 

 production like a good, heavy rain storm, in which they can play 

 and puddle to their heart's content." 



Weber Bros, teach their ducklings to eat by dipping their bills 

 in a pail of water, and then place them on a feed board covered with 

 bread crumbs. When the beak touches the board, some of the dry 

 food sticks to it, is tasted, and immediately they search for more. 



According to Prof. Cushman, in Country Gentleman, Weber 

 Bros, give these reasons for their success : Do not breed in-and-in, 

 or raise breeding stock from anything younger than yearlings. Do 

 not fail to give your young birds, to be used for breeders, more 

 growing food, and more freedom, than you give the ducks that are 

 fatted and killed. Mate up before November i, and be sure to feed 

 plenty of cooked vegetables and green food, as well as the right 

 grain, if you want the eggs to be fertilized early in winter. 



The following weights of ducklings from the shell to market, 

 were gathered by A. J. Hallock, of the Atlantic Farm, Speonk, Long 

 Island. Mr. Hallock has a camera and made the photos himself, 

 which he showed to the writer while on a visit to his farm : 



Half out of the shell, weight 2| ounces. 



All out the shell, weight 2| ounces. 



One week old, weight 3 ounces. 



Two weeks old, weight 5^ ounces. 



Three weeks old, weight 7^ ounces. 



Four weeks old, i pound, 3 ounces. 



Five weeks old, 2 pounds, 6 ounces. 



Six weeks old, 3 pounds 12 ounces. 



Seven weeks old, 4 pounds, 12 ounces. 



Eight weeks old, 6 pounds, 2 ounces. 



Nine weeks old, 7 pounds, 4 ounces. 



Ten weeks old, 8 pounds. 



Eleven weeks old, 9 pounds, 3 ounces. 



Do not excite the laying ducks. 



The laying of the young duck is irregular at first. 



The duck feed should be neither too dry nor too sloppy. 



Shake up the bedding every day or two, and remove the 

 manure. 



During cold weather it is better to house the breeding ducks 

 than to allow them out doors. 



During snowy or icy weather, throw bedding in part of the 

 run so as to prevent the duck from getting cold feet. 



Rankin runs his temperature in incubator for duck eggs, at 102 

 degrees the first three weeks ; 103 degrees the fourth week, and 104 

 degrees when the ducks are about to hatch. 



After repeated experiments the writer finds that a duck will 

 consume on an average, eight ounces of mash in the morning, and 



