The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-02-25
DUCK RAISING.
A. Business Which is Increas-
ing Fast in the East.
Ducks Hatohel in Iucubators anil Yield
ing Profit of $45 Each.

Ducks Hatohel in IuCubators anil Yield
ing Profit of $45 Each.
"Itis remarkable, said wcll-known
poultry dealer in response to inquiries
made by a reporter for the New York
Mail and Erpress, chow rapidly duck
raising has. grown to be a leading feature
in our business. Every day shows an in
creased demand for ducks for eating pur-
poses. Why is this9 Because it has been
found that they are great delieacy and
far ahead OF even chickens as hroilers.
They command us high, if not higher,
prices in the market than chickens. For
the past two years a great speciality has
been made of raising them in the East,
especially around Boston, and now New
Workers and Jerscyites are beginning to
90 into the business at lively rate. We
have hitherto devoted the larger part of
the time on our chicken ranch to the rails
ing of chickens, but so great has become
the demand for ducks that we have de-
termined to make that our speciality now
instead of chickens. They can be hatched
out in the incubator the same as chicks,
and they are raised more easily than
chickens. They are not so liable to dis
ease and do not require so much care.
Besides, they are ready for market when
two months old and are twice the weight
of chickens at the same age"
'What kind of ducks are most in de-
mandw
''The White Pellins, because they have
no dark feathers and their flesh is hand
some yellow, looking the best when dress
ed. Why, in carly market such ducks
bring as high as so and 60 cents pound.
Next to the White Pckins in demand are
the Roucns and the Aylesburys. The
latter are much like the White Pekins.
The points in favor of the Rouens are
that they grow rapidly and retain their
weight remarkably well, but their flesh
is not so yellow, and consequently they
do not bring as good prices in the mar
ket.n
"What is the average weight of ducks
and geese2"
'Ducks average in weight about six
pounds and ordinary sized geese twelve
pounds. But some breeds of geese grow
very large, and have seen a goose that
weighed thirty pounds. The best food
for ducks is made of brewers grains.
They are great caters"
'Can you give an example of money
made in duck -raising2"
''Therc is one that is causing much
comment among all poultry dealers just
now, and it is really a remarkable case.
1t is that of a poultry producer of South
Easton, Mass. lie shows an actual profit
of $40 from one duck and of $1,575
from thirtyfivc ducks. As poultry
journal commenting on the fact truthful
ly says, that it is more than is made
from herd Of dairy COWS and the capital
required is much less"
Particulars which were obtained from
this gentleman showed that his adult
flock consists of thirty ducks, and
the profit averaged $40 for each. He
uses the Pckins, but thinks cross be-
tween that breed and the Aylcsbury SUI
perior to either His adult ducks are
allowed large trough, through which
fresh water constantly flows. This is
used for bathing purposes. The number
of eggs last year was l40 from each duck.
The eggs were Matched in his incuba-
tors, from which 5000 ducklings were
raised to the age Of from eight to ten
weeks and marketed the price received
in the Boston market being 80 cents
pound for those that came in early and
IS cents pound for these that were late,
the average price being % cents pound.
The cost of raising each duckling to the
age of eight weeks was cents pound.
His profit was thus II cents pound
and as the 5000 ducklings produced
l2, 900 pounds of meat their yield was
over $4,000. Other expenses such as
quarters, attendance, ETC., reduced his
profits to $3.50. The young ducks had
no access to water except for drinking
purposes and were fed in the same man
ner as chicks, except that they required
more animal food. 1t was found also
that each duckling yielded from an
ounce to two ounces of feathers, which
sell for so cents a pound. Each adult
duck laid 140 eggs and began to lay
when five months old. The best prices,
30 cents a pound, were obtained about
the middle of May, decreasing to 1S
cents in July. They weighed per pair
Dne pound week for each weeks
growth when eight weeks old, or four
pounds each, gaining pound week.
They were raised in brooders, but were
carefully watched, fed often and kept
Bound to Remain Single.
Back-Why don't you get married,