29 
SUPPLYING WATER. 
Fig. 24.—Gutter water trough. 
As has been previously stated, water for bathing is not at all neces¬ 
sary for growing ducks, but a liberal supply for drinking is absolutely 
essential to their growth. The food of the duck is such as to require 
drink when eating, as it is compar¬ 
atively dry and can not be eaten 
hurriedly as grain is. When feeding, 
always replenish the water troughs 
or fountains with pure, fresh water. 
A duck when feeding will eat a 
small quantity and go to the water 
troughs, for drink, repeating this 
performance several times during 
the meal. Conveniences for supply¬ 
ing drinking water to breeding and growing ducks are varied, and 
almost any contrivance will answer the purpose. When small numbers 
of ducks are kept, the simplest method of supplying water is in wooden 
troughs. These may be built V-shape or with square bottoms. They 
are shown in figs. 24 and 25. 
For smaller ducks, those kept in the 
warm brooder house, the fountain plan 
is to be preferred, as the youngsters can 
not get into the water and become wet 
or chilled. These fountains may be 
made of air-tight cans for the reservoir 
and a tin plate 2 inches larger in diam¬ 
eter than the can. A tomato can and 
an ordinary tin pie plate make an excel¬ 
lent fountain. Remove the top of the can and punch a small hole iu the 
side about a quarter of an inch from the free top edge 5 fill the can with 
water and place it inverted on the plate. The water will run out until 
it reaches in the plate the level of the hole in the can. The plate will 
not overflow and water will 
be supplied automatically. 
Some raisers use a pan—a 
pie plate, for instance—and 
place a stone several inches 
smaller in diameter than the 
pan in the center, leaving a 
margin for water around the 
edge. 
When large numbers of 
birds are kept, it is of course 
necessary that a system for watering be adopted for saving labor. A 
practical system in use is where the water is supplied by 1 -inch pipes 
and having a cock in each pen directly over the water trough. Fig. 26 
Fig. 25.—Flat water trough. 
Fig. 26.—Plan for supplying water by pipes. 
