Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1889-05-04
A pRoElTARLE INoUsTRY.


Many Advantages Possessed by Ducks
Over Other Domestic Fowl.
Not much attention has been given
in this country to Embarrassing until
recent years, partly owing to the fact
that wild ducks have been so plentiful
that hunters have kept the markets
very well supplied at the season when
those birds are most in demand. The
wild duck has almost disappeared from
our markets and the introduction Of
the Imperial Pekin duck, together with
the rapid strides in methods of arti-
fetal Matching has made d~uck-raising
an important profitable industry. BY
forcing their growth while they are
Young their flesh is sweet, tender and
iuicv, and our city epicures + willing
to pay very high prices for them in the
spring.
There are many advantages pos
sessed by ducks ave other domestic
fowl. They are very hardy, are en-
tirely free from vermin and are liable
TO few diseases. They take to contine-
ment much better than fowls and a
cheap Every low fence is sufficient to
keep them in the desired place. They
stand transportation, either alive or
when dressed, better than most kinds
of fowls. They are great egg pro
ducers, and their feathers are of con-
siderable value, about fifty cents u
pound. If kept growing when young,
the Pekin duck will commence
LAYING when five or six months
old, although like pullets, some
what less ~prolifcally than when more
mature. They will mott slightly in
December and soon after that will re-
sumo laying, producing n hundred
and twenty to n hundred and f1ety
eggs within a year if well cared for.
We have heard complaints Of the I'M
fertility of the earlier ducks eggs and
have the impression that not until
about February | are they sufficiently
to be profitable for Matching.
Ducks are not reliable sitters and
'or that reason, us well as because they
are not as good mothers as hens, 1t is
better to allow hens to hatch the eggs
md bring up the young ducks. They
should be fed much the same as young
for a week or ten days, mixing
heir food with milk If it can be had.
'eed five or six times a day on bread
in milk. table scraps mixed
With chopped meat, lettuce, onion tops,
.abbage, green rye, green corn (orany
stuff, with a little salt and
added. Ducks are gross feeders
nd eat almost every thing without
Care should ctaken the first
ew days to keep the sucklings warm
nd dry, as they suffer more from cold
nd wet than chicks; after they are Il
eek or ten days old they will endure
lore of either than chicks, Care should
@ taken, also, to provide shade from
ne hot sun, as they suffer greatly
'om the heat.
Contrary to the general belief it is
OF necessary for ducks TO have water
swim in and giving them all the water
lcy need to drink is sufficient. 1t is
Iyisablc to have water dishes 50 con
.ructed that they can drink freely ,
ithout getting wet themselves and !
le water will have to be repleni5hed
any times IA day.
1t is the early duck that commands !
lie fancy price of forty to fifty cents a
Dund and as they Il be brought to
eigh nine to ten pounds per pair at :,
weeks old it is easy to see that :
Iere is Il large profit in them. !
Mr.. Rankin says; 81 keep my breed. :
9 ducks warm and dry during winter n
induce early laying, feeding them u
equal quantities Of boiled turnips, d
m meal and wheat bran. and giving Il
EN- all the green stuff they will cat :
the shape of refuse cabbage, green "
.e and ensilagc. The young ducks J.
'mmence laying about January /. t.
y ducks are all Matched and reared I
officially and are put upon the mar !
et at a cost of five cents per pound ;
New ENGLAND Farmer. /