Ducks and Geese

TABLE OF CONTENTS


Preface

List of Illustrations.


PART I--DUCKS

Chapter. Page.

I. Extent of the Industry--Opportunities 3

Present Extent of the Industry--Different Types of Duck
Raising--Opportunities for Duck Raising--Prices for
Breeding Stock--Ducks for Ornamental Purposes.

II. Breeds and Varieties--How to Mate to Produce Exhibition
Specimens--Preparing Ducks for the Show--Catching and
Handling 9

Breeds of Ducks--Classification of Breeds--Marking the
Ducks--Nomenclature--Distinguishing the
Sex--Size--Popularity of Breeds--Egg Production--Size of
Duck Eggs--Color of Eggs--Broodiness--General
Considerations in Making the Mating--Making the
Mating--The Pekin--The Aylesbury--The Rouen--The
Cayuga--The Call--The Gray Call--The White Call--The
Black East India--The Muscovy--The Colored Muscovy--The
White Muscovy--The Blue Swedish--The Crested White--The
Buff--The Runner--The Fawn and White Runner--The White
Runner--The Penciled Runner--Preparing Ducks for the
Show--Catching and Handling Ducks--Packing and Shipping
Hatching Eggs.

III. Commercial Duck Farming--Location--Estimate of Equipment
and Capital Necessary in Starting the Business 42

Distribution--Stock Used--Location of Plant--Making a
Start in Duck Farming--Equipment, Capital, etc.
Required--Lay-out or Arrangement of the Plant--Land
Required--Number of Breeders required--Housing Required
for Breeders--Incubator Capacity--Brooder
Capacity--Fattening Houses or Sheds--Feed
Storage--Killing and Picking House--Resident--Horse
Power--Feeding Track--Electric Lights--Water
Supply--Fences--Labor--Invested Capital--Working
Capital--Profits.

IV. Commercial Duck Farming--Management of the Breeding Stock 55

Age of Breeders--Distinguishing Young from Old
Ducks--Selection of Breeding Ducks--Number of Females to
a Drake--Securing Breeding Drakes--Houses and Yards for
Breeders--Bedding and Cleaning the Breeding
Houses--Cleaning the Breeding Yards--Water Yards for
Breeders--Feeding the Breeders--Egg Production--Time of
Marketing Breeders--Disease--Insect Pests--Dogs.

V. Commercial Duck Farming--Incubation 70

Kinds of incubators used--Incubator Cellar--Incubator
Capacity Required--Age of Hatching Eggs--Care of
Hatching Eggs--Selecting the Eggs for
Hatching--Temperature--Position of
Thermometer--Testing--Turning the Eggs--Cooling the
Eggs--Moisture--Fertility--Hatching--Selling Baby Ducks.

VI. Commercial Duck Farming--Brooding and Rearing the
Young Stock 80

Removing the Newly Hatched Ducklings to the Brooder
House--Brooder Houses Required--Brooder House No.
1--Construction of House--Heating
Apparatus--Pens--Equipment of the Pens--Grading and
Sorting the Ducklings--Cleaning and Bedding the
Pens--Ventilation--Other Types of Brooder Houses--Length
of Time in Brooder House No. 1--Brooder House No.
2--Brooder House No. 3--Yard Accommodations for
Ducklings--Shade--Feeding--Lights for Ducklings--Pounds
of Feed to Produce a Pound of Market Duck--Water for
Young Ducks--Age and Weight when Ready for
Market--Cripples--Cleaning the Yards--Critical Period
with Young Ducks--Disease Prevention--Gapes or
Pneumonia--Fits--Diarrhoea--Lameness--Sore Eyes--Feather
Eating or Quilling--Rats--Cooperative Feed Association.

VII. Commercial Duck Farming--Marketing 102

Proper Age to Market--Weights at Time of Marketing--The
Last Feed for Market Ducks--Sorting Market
Ducklings--Killing--Scalding--Picking--Dry
Picking--Cooling--Packing--Shipping--Cooperative
Marketing Association--Prices for Ducks--Shipping Ducks
Alive--Saving the Feathers--Prices and Uses of Duck
Feathers--Marketing Eggs.