Young ducks grow quickly, and as a result, they need food that has a lot of protein and is high in calories. For the first 3 weeks of life, feed them a starter diet that is 18-20% protein and consists of small pellets (about 1/8").  Duck food can be bought at your local pet store. Some reputable manufacturers of duck food are Purina, Mazuri, or Gunter. Though chicken feed can be substituted for duck food, chicken feed should not be fed to ducklings.  Once the ducklings reach 20 weeks of age, you can substitute duck food for chicken feed with the same amount of protein. Male and female ducks will both need the same amount of protein. Check the back of your duck food bag for nutritional information. This amount of calcium is needed for laying ducks to make quality eggs. You can begin to feed the female ducks this higher protein diet in the spring time, when they are likely to begin laying eggs. These treats should compromise no more than 15-20% of a duck’s diet. Cut all treats into small pieces. You can also let your duck graze outside, provided the area they are grazing has no pesticides or other toxic materials.  Don’t season or cook these treats. Feed them raw. Bread, chocolate, onion, garlic, popcorn, avocados, and citrus fruits should not be fed to ducks. Ducks should be allowed to graze freely on their food. Remove the food at night so it does not begin to rot or attract ants and rats. Each duck will consume about 6-7 ounces of food per day, but bigger ducks may eat a bit more. Buying duck food in bulk will work for feeding large flocks, but for smaller flocks, buy small amounts of food frequently so they will have fresh food all the time. Moldy food can make ducks very sick. Store leftover duck food where it can keep dry. This water can be provided in a trough, an outdoor pond, or a shallow bucket. Any large, open container the ducks can fit their bill in will suffice. If you decide to use a watering system, such as those designed for chickens or turkeys, just make sure the ducks can reach the water.  The water should always be clean, as ducks are especially prone to botulism. Change the water daily.

Summary: Feed ducklings and adolescent ducks a diet that is 18-20% protein. Feed ducks over the age of 3 weeks a diet that is 14% protein. Feed laying ducks a 16-17% protein diet that has 3-4% calcium. Offer occasional treats like corn, carrots, and greens like cucumber or broccoli. Provide food at all times during the day. Buy small amounts of fresh food more frequently. Provide cool 50-70°F (10-21°C) and clean drinking water.


of the floors. Use a tape measure to take measurements of the floor layout. You may want to note the measurements on a sketch of the RV. Take the drawing with you when you’re shopping for your floors so you can picture the layout as you shop. You may not have to remove the furniture in your RV for your floor replacement. However, if you have to replace the subfloor, or if you want you new flooring to extend underneath the couch or table, you'll need to take the furniture out.  Unless the subfloor is damaged, the choice of whether to install new flooring under your furniture is largely aesthetic. Furniture in an RV is often bolted down, so you will probably need a wrench in order to remove it. from the around walls and cabinets. Use a crowbar to pry the trim loose. If the trim appears to be in good shape, remove it carefully and keep it so you can replace it after you install your new flooring. If it’s molded, warped, or otherwise damaged, throw it out and buy new trim. If you have to do any cutting with a saw, you’ll need to have safety goggles and a face mask nearby. You may also want heavy leather or canvas gloves to protect your hands while you’re working. It’s a good idea to have these on hand before you start your project just in case you need them. Open the windows and doors to ventilate the space as well.

Summary: Measure the square footage Take out the furniture if you need to. Remove any trim Gather your safety materials.


Going above and beyond is about more than just doing what’s necessary to get a story. You need to be more than just a good writer in today’s journalism market. When you write a story, don’t stop at the minimum to get the job done. Think about what you’d want out of the article if you were a reader, and try to give them that.  Make yourself more marketable by expanding your technical skills. Knowing how to use more programs, do basic coding, and use creative software will help you get your voice out there and will make you more marketable. If possible, beat your deadlines. While you don’t want to rush your work, you do want to provide your publisher with a speedy product so that your article will be timely. You may have to give up your free time or miss out on fun events with friends in order to meet your journalism goals. Writing is usually a solitary activity, so it may be a sacrifice for you to miss out on that social time. You may also need to sacrifice earning potential or social connections if you write about polarizing issues. When you’re faced with sacrifices, ask yourself what’s more important to you. Ask, “Where do I want to be in five years? How will this sacrifice impact my five-year goal?” Journalists get information from a variety of sources, so you’ll need to know how to gather, assess, and organize information on your own. Research consists of more than just doing a Google search. You need to be able to find the information you need in print sources, by talking to knowledgeable individuals, and by sorting through relevant materials, such as letters, memos, or file documents. Being able to understand various topics, sniff out stories, and look at things from various perspectives are all necessary to be a good journalist.  Consider getting a degree in something other than journalism to make you a more informed writer. If you want to cover world events, consider studying languages. Read or watch the news, and stay plugged in to politics, current events, and pop culture. Anything can be relevant from a journalistic standpoint, so keep yourself open and learn the current trends. You’ll produce better stories and get your readers what they want if you know what’s going on. Before reporting information that you find, make sure that it’s from a reliable source. When possible, try to find a second source that confirms the information. If you receive facts from a source, independently verify that those facts line up. For example, if someone tells you that they knew the subject of your story when they were in college, make sure they were really in college together. While you will likely build relationships with some of your sources or the people you write about, make sure those relationships don’t influence how you portray them in your work. For example, if your best friend works as a police officer, then getting your crime information from them will likely be biased toward your friend’s opinion.  For example, don’t take payments from a source or a subject of an article. If you are writing an investigative article about a corporation, you’ll lose your independence if you allow them to hire you for freelance work during your investigation. If you have someone who gives you inside information about the local crime beat, keep a professional relationship with that person. If you start to get too personal, then you may unknowingly have a bias toward them. If you get too close to a source, you can always ask them to help you find a new one so that your information stays independent.
Summary: Go above and beyond what’s required. Make sacrifices. Conduct your own research. Expand your knowledge base. Stay up-to-date on news and events. Verify your sources. Maintain independence from your sources and subjects.