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.

VIII. Duck Raising, on the Farm 120

Conditions Suitable for Duck Raising--Size of Flock--Making a Start--Selecting the Breed--Age of Breeding Stock--Size of Matings--Breeding and Laying Season--Management of Breeders--Housing--Feeding--Water--Yards--Care of Eggs for Hatching--Hatching the Eggs--Brooding and Rearing--Feeding the Ducklings--Water for Ducklings--Distinguishing the Sexes--Marketing the Ducks--Diseases and Insect Pests.