Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-11-22
r.arrs Proat. Made From Ducks.

The visitors 10 the recent sta e fair per-
haps noticed Inc large hatch OK dues
lines made by Mr. James R1nSin, OF Soutf
Easton. Mas. in rs incubator which st
had onexhibi zion. His eSpsrlence, whlch L
yiyeo FOR the benefit OF our readers, IS very
interesting. The question OF how muci
land is req Tired for raising poultry may b'
answered bY say ny that on tract not ex
caediny an acre Mr.. RANKIN cleared q prof
of $l5I5 from duCIings. His alult al
cons SITS Of thirty-hve ducks, and the p,or,.
average s45 for each duck, or more than Is
realised from the same number Of d2irF
cows on many farms. He uses the Pekn i,
but thinks o cross be- ween that breed en-
the Aylosbury superior to either pafth
Bis adult duc1s are allowed large rough
through whic. fresh water constantly noNS'
which is used for bathing purposes. IN
nun Der OF eggs last year was 100 from eacu
duciI The egg were LaJcGed iulocubato! 5,
from which 5000 ducl-ings were ralssd
10 the age Of from GA to ten weeks a ld
mar Reted tie price received IN the boston
market benz thirty cents per pound tor
those thar came in early, and eighteen cents
per pound for those that were late, the
aver age price being twenty-five cents per
pound.
"A
chicks. and are sub sct to fe wer diseases,
thew not only reached the market IN a Short
time after Icing Matched but the percent
age Of loss vas very small, which OF
course, is due to the careful attention they
rece tvej. They also come into market after
chic IS 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 three months from the time
the eggs are put in the incubator, four
wee IS being allowed for incubation. The
extr aordinary weignt shows an increase OF
half pouni per week from the date Of
birth for each duck, bu5 as they increase
faster as they become older, until maturity,
those over six weeks Of age increased at the
rate Of one poon per week. Tn. cost Of rails
ing each ducklng TO the age Of eight weeks
was five cents per pound, the average price
per pound for each ducSling being twenty
two cents. Mr. Rankin's profit was seven
teen cents per pounds, AMI b. calculation 1t
will be seen that the 5000 ducklings pro-
ducsd over 1900 pounds of meat, which
Welded over s.. 600 Other expenses, such
as quarters, attendance, etc, reduced the
profit to ST. SIS, or S45 as the produce Of
each adult duck OF the thirty-five. The
young ducks had no access to water, except
for drinking purposes, and were fed in the
same manner as chicks, except that sthsy
require more animal food and must be
fed often. owing to thsir rapid growth.
Mr.. Rsnkin's experience is valuable to
al who are interested In poultry, AMI few
excellent lessons are taught In the first
place but hrt e lani was required, and in
the second pace he discarded the scrubs,
using the best breeds to be found, which
are pure white in color, with yellow legs
and beaks Inc young ducxl.ngs we're
killed AM sent 10 market dressed, each
yielding from an ounce to two ounces of
feathers at fifty cents a pOuni, which
paid the expense Of preparation for the
mar ket There is no secret IN Mr.. Rankin S
success, as all that was required was to at
tend 10 them as a business In fact, he
makes it a business, jus. as a dairyman
gives his COWS his atten ion, and finds that
1t pays he ICES not attempt to conduct
some other business, and look after his
poultry in his spare time but is with them
early and late The figures given here are
the profits from ducklings only H.
matches and raises thousands of chicks.
however. using incubators entirely, and
does not think it a difficult matter t.
MAKE poultry pay.