Page:Ducks- and how to make them pay (IA cu31924003102971).pdf/53



Rearing ducklings—Feeding young stock—Stock and exhibition ducks—Ducks for home consumption—Ducks for market—Aylesbury duck management—Duck houses and barns—Fattening—Warmth for growth.

FTER the young ducklings are hatched, the next thing is to bring them up; but they are less trouble to rear than any other class of the feathered tribes I know of, young geese excepted. After the first three or four days are over they are practically no trouble at all, if they are fed, watered, and kept clean. But, say some of my readers, "Which is the best way to do this, so that we may produce fine young ducklings for the table, weighing at least $5 1⁄2$ lbs., up to $8 1⁄2$ lbs., at about ten weeks old?" Of course there is a great deal in feeding, as regards getting size in the young stock, but it is impossible to get size unless the eggs have come from proper stock ducks; there is little difficulty if the eggs originate from good-sized, healthy stock.