Page:Ducks- and how to make them pay (IA cu31924003102971).pdf/42

28 have pig-sties, like there are very often at farm-houses and at gentlemen's residences, will find these make splendid houses for, say a drake and four ducks, or two drakes and eight ducks. When the houses have to be built for ducks, they should be arranged in the same style as the pig-sties, viz., a place for them to sleep in, and a little outer yard cemented, so that the ducks can be fed outside their sleeping-place; then their house can be kept nice and dry inside. Another reason why they should have an outer pen is so that they can be closed up till they have all laid, as ducks are very often troublesome if they are allowed out early in the morning. For instance, they will drop their eggs about, and very often the pond is the receptacle for them. This makes it very awkward in the season when ducks' eggs are scarce and worth a good deal of money. My duck houses, where I keep two drakes and eight ducks, are about 4 feet by 6 feet, and the outer pen is about 4 feet by 12 feet, if one can spare a little more room so much the better. In all cases concrete should be used, or cement; if not, the rats will burrow holes into the house and roll the eggs into their holes. They can get at these better than hens' eggs, as the latter usually lay up in a higher nest, and at the same time do not lay till after daylight. Ducks do most of their laying early in the morning before daylight, and therefore the rats have an opportunity of clearing the eggs away. Of course, the ducks' houses can be made in height to suit the eye of the owner, but from 4 to 6 feet is really sufficient. At the same time it is very nice to have the houses high enough so that one can walk into them without stooping. In