21 
dry earth, straw, or leaves. The writer favors the using of board 
floors in all houses for chickens, but thinks it not essential for ducks. 
If the house is well drained on the outside and the earth floor is cov¬ 
ered with hay, straw, or leaves, it will be perfectly satisfactory. There 
must not be dampness in the house, as the birds will not do so well; 
while they are given to water on the outside they must have comfort¬ 
able quarters in which to u warm up,” or u dry out.” 
The building shown in tig. 10 may be constructed of any dimensions 
desired, according to the size of flock to be kept. A house 12 by 14 
feet will accommodate nicely a flock 
of a dozen. There are no interior 
arrangements whatever, simply the 
floor surface of the building. It 
is better not to use nests. Some 
raisers use a plain nest, as shown in 
fig. 11. These nests are made of 
1 -inch boards, 12 inches high and 16 
inches long, set 14 inches apart, and 
held together in front with a 3-inch 
strip. The nests are nailed to the back of the house. But more than 
half the eggs are laid on the floor of the house or in the yard, and, if 
permitted, a duck will build herself a nest to her liking. Again, a duck 
is liable to injure herself by falling over the strips in front of nests or 
other obstructions that may be in the house. In fig. 12 is shown the 
nest of a wild duck. 
When two or more breeding pens are to be kept, the plan of the 
house shown in fig. 10 may 
be extended to any length 
desired, as shown in fig. 13. 
In figs. 14 and 15 are shown 
two more designs of duck 
houses, which are practical 
and cheap, and may be 
built singly or in rows for a 
number of pens. Either of 
these houses, and also that 
shown in fig. 10, make ex¬ 
cellent breeding houses for 
the farmer to keep ducks in. 
An inolosure should be given the breeding ducks, as they do better 
confined than when at liberty. Give plenty of room and inclose the 
run with 2-inch wire mesh 2 feet wide. If water is accessible, it should 
be inclosed by the mesh-wire fencing of the same width as for the run. 
In fig. 16 is shown a duck house with water runs, and also the arrange¬ 
ment of wire runs in the water. This is an admirable plan for farmers 
who have running water on their farms. 
Fig. 12.—Nest of wild duck. 
Fig. 11.—Nests for ducks. 
