Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 February 1919 — MAKE SUCCESS RAISING DUCKS [ARTICLE]

MAKE SUCCESS RAISING DUCKS

Market Demands Should Be Studied Before Making Large Investments in Fowls. LESS SUBJECT TO DISEASE Artificial Methods of Hatching and Rearing Have Been Used Successfully—Pekin Breed Is Hardy and Good Layers. Pucks can be raised with success and at a profit on general farms or by town poultry keepers, but do not appear to be easily adapted as a source ■of income to average farm conditions as chickens, although- they serve to add variety both of meat and eggs lor the table. The demands for ducks’ eggs are more limited than for hens’ eggs, and the demand for table duck at good prices is, to a great extent, confined to the large cities, and is not nearly as general as the demand for chickens. For this reason poultry specialists of the United States department of agriculture advise that prospective duck raisers study the market —conditions before making a large investment in ducks.

Intensive duck farming on a large scale, the specialists say, has been 5 more-successful than chicken raising. The Pekin ddcks, which are kept extenslveTy by commerclai grow■ers, are less subject to disease than chickens, and artificial methods of hatching and rearing have been used very successfully by them; These facts,-together with the care in feeding and the study of market conditions, have been responsible for the success of many commercial duck raisers. Farmers have rarely given the necessary attention to these latter points to secure a large share of the trade in fancy “green” ducks. Growing Green Ducks. A green duck is a duckling which has grown rapidly and marketed when from eight to twelve weeks old. weighing at that time from four and onehalf to six pounds. This rapid growth is made possible by an abundance of care and good feeding. The highest prices for ducks are usually paid early In the spring, but the demand is chiefly from the large cities. As a matter of fact, many farmers market their ducks in the fal I at a lower price a bird than green ducks bring in the spring. The Pekin breed of ducks is kept almost exclusively by producers of green ducks. The Pekins are hardy, make fairly good layers, are practically nonsetters, and while not especially well adapted for the production of flesh, are listed In the heavy breeds of ducks.' The standard weights of adult drake and duck are nine and eight pounds each, respectively. They are easily confined by low fences, and are a good breed to raise as a side Issue on a general farm or by the town poultry keeper. Feeding Ducklings; Ducks may be fed bn the rations recommended, for chickens, but better results are usually secured by feeding larger proportion of mash. Ducklings •do not need feed until they are from twenty-four to thirty-six hours old. .After this they should be fed for the first week five times a day; after that, four times a day until they are two or three weeks old, and thereafter three times daily until they are marketed. 'The first ration should consist of a mixture which contains equal parts by measure of rolled oats and bread crumbs, with 3 per cent "bf sharp sand mixed in the feed. When about three days old, this feed is changed to equal parts of bread, rolled oats, bran, and cornmeal. After the first week the ration should be changed again to three parts of bran, one part each of lowgrade wheat flour and cornmeal, 10 per bent of green feed and 5 per cent of beef scrap, with about 3 per cent at send or grit The amount of beef

scrap is gradually increased until it reaches 15 per .cent by the end of the third week. The proportion of cornmeal is increased for the ducklings to be marketed and the bran decreased as the time for marketing the ducklings approaches. The fattening ration, which should, be used for two weeks before killing, consists of three parts, by weight, of cornmeal, two parts of, low-grade flour or middlings, one part of bran, onehalf pa rt of beef scrap, JO per cen t green feed and 3 per cent grit. This mash is fed three times daily. The green feed is sometimes left out of the ration during the last week of fattening, as it tends to color the meat, but it is easier to keep the ducklings in good feeding condition if it is included. Boiled fish is sometimes used in place of the beef scrap, but this should be discontinued two weeks before the ducklings are* killed in order not to impart a fishy- taste. Where milk is available at a sufficiently low price, the rations recommended for milk-fattened chickens would produce a well-bleached milk-fed green duck. Celery seed Is also used, as this is said to flavor the flesh.

The Egg Breed. For the general farmer who is more interested in obtaining eggs than in producing green ducks for the market, the Indian Runneris a good breed. This duck holds the same relative position in the duck family that the Leghorn does in the chicken family. It lays a good-sized white egg, considerably larger than a hen’s egg, and is declared to be a small eater, a good forager and hardy. At the present time the keeping of ducks for eggs is an industry which appears to be growing more rapidly in the South than elsewhere. A good demand -for these eggs exists at Easter time, and the prices are usually several cents a dozen higher than for liens’ eggs, but during the balance of the year the average price for the tw-o has been about the same. Recently, Imwever, the introduction of the Indian Runner has helped in building up a trade in first-class ducks' eggs. These eggs should be marketed frequently, as they depreciate in quality more rapidly than hens’ eggs. The "posslbillfies ofseeffffflg" a market," moreover, should be carefully investigated, for it is only in certain places that good prices can be secured for fancy ducks’ eggs. On commercial duck farms most of the hatching is done in incubators, for the Pekin and Indian Runner rarely sit. On farms where no incubator is available, the eggs are usually hatched under hens. The period of incubation is a week longer than that of hens’ eggs, and, for this reason, the hen must be well cared for. While ducks are easier to brood artificially than chickens, they may also be. raised successfully under hens. In the latter case it is better to confine the hens and to allow the ducklings free range. Birds that are intended for sale as green ducks, however, are not usually allowed much range, but are fed heavily and forced for rapid growth. The brooders and brooding systems used for chickens give good results in . rear ing ducklings, although the letter do not require as high a temperature.

' Well-selected hens or pullets that are given the right attention in care and feeding, together with good winter quarters, stand a good chance of making. a real record in profit! thia winter. «■ - '