The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1885-11-19
LARGE PROFITS MADE FROM
DUCKS.


Fair perhaps potieed the large hatch
of dncklipgs made 10y Mr.. james
Rankin, OF South Eastop, Mass. in
his incubator, which he had on exhi.
bition. His experience, which is
given for the benefit of our readers.
is very interesting. The question Of
how much laud is required for isss
ing poultry, may bo answered 10y
snyiog that on a tract not exceeding
an acre Mr.. Rankin cleared n profit
81 ,575 from ducklings. The adult
flock consists of thirty~fvo ducks,
and the profits averaged S45 for
each duck, or more than is realized
from tue same number of cows on
many dairy fitms. lIe uses the Pc
ins, but thinks cross between
that breed and the Aylesbnry super
ior to either parent. Tbs adult
ducks are allowed large trough,
through which fresh water constant
ly flows, which is used for bathil &
purposes. The number Of eggs last
year was 40 from each duck The
eggs were h,tched in incabntors.
from which 5000 duckiiDgs wero
raised to the age Of from eight TO
ten weeks and marketed, tho prico
received in the Boston market being
80 cents per pound f,r those that
came in eally, aud Is cents pei
pound for those that were late, the
AVERAGE price being % cents per
ponnd.
IS ducklngs grow much faster
than chicks aud are subject to fewer
diseases, they not only reach the
market in short time after being
ha,ched, but the percentage Of loss
was very small, which, Of course, ID
due to tho careful attention they re-
ceived. They also came into marke,
after chicks are low in price. They
attain the weight OF from eight to
ten pounds per pair at the age OF
eight weeks, being ready for market
in tLreo months from the toe The
eggs are put 10 tho incubator, foui
weeks being allowed for incubation
This extraordinary weight shows al
increase Of half q pound per week
from date of birth for each duck but
az they increase faster as they be-
come older, until maturity, those
over six weeks of age increased at
tho rate Of ono pound per week
The cost OF raising eoch duckling tc
the age of eight weeks was b cent?
per pound, the average price pen
pound for each duckling being q
cents. Mr. Raukin's profit was II
cents per pound, and by calculation
it will be seen that the 5000 duck
lings produced over l2,O0) pounds
Of meat, which yielded over 5000
Other expenses, such as quarters,
attendance, etc, reduced the profit
to $!575, or Si5 as the produce OF
each adult duck of the thiriy-fve
The young ducks had no access to
water, except for drinking purposes,
aud were fed 10 the same manner az
chicks, except that they require more
animal food, and must be fed oft, n
owing to their rapid growth.
MIR Raukiu's experience is vaiua-
BILE to all who arc interested in ponl'
try, and a few excellent lessons are
Taught In tho first place but little
land was required, and in the second
place he discarded the scrubs, using
the best Lreeds to be found, which
are pure white in color. with yellow
legs and beaks. The young duck
lings were killed and sent to market
dressed, each yelling from an ounce
to two ounces of feathers, at 80 cents
pouud, which paid the expenses Of
preparation for market. There is no
secret in Mr.. Rankin'ssuccess, as oil
that was required was to attend to
them as a business. In fact, he
makes it business, just as a dairy.
man gives his cows his attention, and
fiods that il pays. He does not at
tempt to conduct some other bust
ness and "look after" bis poultry in
his spare time, but is with them ear.
ly aud late. The figures given here
are the profits from ducklings only.
lie hatches and raises thousands of
chicks, however, using incubators
entirely, and does not think it
difficult matter to make poultry pay
.-Philadelphia Record.
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