The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1888-03-27
Duck Raising.

Duck raising is becoming more pop
ular now than ever before, and
farmers in general are beginning
to realize that there is considera
BILE profit in them, especially if they
are well fixed to raise them. The
construction of a duck-house is
very simple, as they do not need so
much house-room as chickens, and
are contented, and easier kept within
bounds. 1t is quite a prevalent idea
that ducks are greedy creatures, and
eat more than they are worth. How
ever, this is literally a wrong impress
sion, as it is as much, Or possiblymore
profitable to raise ducks, even for
market, than it is to raise chickens for
the same purpose. This statement
may surprise many, yet it is true, and
can be easily proved by experience,
for young growing ducks eat less In
proportion to their growth than
chickens do. One important advant-
g which ducks have is, that they
reach maturity much sooner than
chickens do; and, of course, the longer
it takes to mature. the greater the
expense of both food and time; and
experience has proved, that with the
same amount of food and care, a pair
of ducks three months old will weigh
two or three pounds more than chick
ems of the same age. Hence it is,
that when properly managed, young
ducks are more profitable to raise
than chickens are, for there is no do
nestle fowl that mature faster than
the duck. If you wish to prove this
last statement, it can easily be done
by weighing a certain number of
young ducks and the same number of
chicks, and put them in yards side by
side, feeding both all they require, and
then weighing them in a month or six
weeks, and the difference will nearly
always be decidedly in favor of the
ducks. Another wrong impression
is, that ducks cannot be raised with
out a large pond of water for their
use; and the idea is common, that this
is absolutely necessary for their
growth. Now, it cannot be denied
but that it is an advantage to have a
nice pond or running stream for their
use, and if they have daily access to
it, they will procure a good part of
their living from it; and in summer
they need but little food besides what
heritage, small fish, insects, ETC., they
: will pick up if allowed the run of a
good pond or stream. To be sure,
plenty of water is not Objectionable,
but when it cannot be had, ducks can
be proitably kept, and thousands of
them are annually raised where water
has to be supplied artiicially. A trio
of good breeding ducks ought to pro-
duce at least'a hundred ducklings each
year, and if properly managed will do
even better than this. The first eggs
laid should be Matched under hens, and
thus keep the ducks laying until late
in the season, when they can be set
and allowed to hatch out their own
brood. This can be easily done, as
ducks frequently lay two or three
months before they take a notion to
raise a brood of their own, and if the
first eggs are Matched at all, they must
be put under hens, or in an incubator.
Hens make very good mothers for
young ducks, and are perhaps even
better than duck-mothers when duck
lings are young, for hens will not lead
them in the water, as their natural
mothers do; and this is just what is
needed, for fully three-fourths of the
ducks which are lost while very young
are killed by cramps and chills by al
lowing them to 60 into the cold water
before the down on their skin is thick
enough to resist these i'll effects.
Ducks, above all other poultry,
should be handled carefully especially
when young. Do not lift or carry
them by their legs, for their bodies
are heavy, and the bones are tender
and easily broken. To secure the best
results they must have their liberty,
at least during the greater part of
each day, and should be set free in
the morning, a. soon as they have laid
their eggs, and allowed to run the
rest of the day. When ducks have
free range over pastures and a good
pond to swim in, they will pick up a full
supply of food during the spring and
summer, and will not require other
food at that time, and when in good
condition, always bring a good price
in market. Their feathers command
a good price, and their eggs are large,
and though not SO palatable as hens
opos aro ovool1opt for y 49,