and there were
27 in each lot. After the second weighing the number in each lot was
reduced to 24 ducks.
Feed No. 1 Feed No. 2
Total Weight Average Weight Total Weight Average Wt
August 14 4-3/4 lbs. 0.176 4-3/4 lbs. 0.176
August 21 10 " 0.37 9-1/2 " 0.352
August 28 16-1/2 " 0.687 17-1/2 " 0.729
September 5 25 " 1.041 27 " 1.125
September 13 44-1/2 " 1.854 48-1/2 " 2.02
September 19 50 " 2.083 56-1/2 " 2.354
September 27 64 " 2.666 67 " 2.62
October 4 78-1/2 " 3.27 82-1/2 " 3.437
October 11 99-1/2 " 4.145 103-1/2 " 4.312
October 18 115-1/2 " 4.812 119 " 4.958
October 25 126 " 5.25 135 " 5.62
_Lights for Ducklings._ Often when the ducks are about one-third grown
or about 4 weeks old they will stampede at night at any unusual noise or
any other disturbance. In doing this, especially when they are in fairly
large lots, they surge back and forth in the pens, running over one
another with the result that their backs are torn and scratched while
not infrequently more serious injuries result and may cause cripples.
To keep them quiet it is common to use lights at night. Formerly
lanterns were used but now on most duck plants electric lights are
available for this purpose. For a house 140 feet long, six 15-watt
lights scattered at equal intervals will be sufficient, and these can be
used in like proportion for houses of other lengths. The lights are left
on all night. Even when the ducks are half grown and may be out on the
yards it is still necessary to use lights on stormy nights so that they
will stay in and keep quiet and not get drowned in the rain. With a 16 x
24 foot house such as described previously, a single 25 watt light is
sufficient. Ducklings are especially likely to be stampeded during
thunderstorms and if a storm is coming up it is well to turn on the
lights and to shut the ducklings in their shelters when they are first
placed in the yards. One should not carry a lantern when moving among
the ducklings at night as this will cause moving shadows which are very
likely to frighten and stampede the birds.
[Illustration: