The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1889-06-13
4 PROFITABLE INDUSTRY.
Many Advantages Possessed ny Duch
Over Other Domestic Fowl

Many Advantages Possessed ny DuchD
Over Other Domestio Fowl
Not much attention has been given
In this country to duck-raising 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 tho season when
those birds arc 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 duck-raising
an important profitable industry. By
forcing their growth while they are
young their flesh IS sweet. tender and
juicy, and our city epicures are willing
to pay very high prices for them inthe
spring.
There are many advantages pos
sessed by ducks over other domestic
fowl They are very hardy, are en-
tirely free from vermin and are liable
to few diseases. They take to confine-.
ment much better than fowls and a
cheap very 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 a
pound. II kept growing when young,
the Pekfn duck will commence
laying when five or six months
old, although like pullets, some
what less prolifically than when more
mature They will mott slightly in
December and soon after that will re-
sumo laying, producing one hundred
and twenty to one hundred and forty
eggs within 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
fertile to be profitable for Matching.
Ducks are not reliable sitters and
for that reason, as well as because they
are not as good mothers as hens, it is
better to allow hens to hatch the eggs
and bring up the young ducks. They
should be fed much the same as young
chicks for week or ten days, mixing
their food with milk if it can be had.
Feed five or six times day on bread
soaked in milk, table scraps mixed
with ehopped meat. lettuce, onion tops.
cabbage. green rye, green corn Cor any
green stuff). with q little salt and
pepper added. Ducks are gross feeders
and eat almost every thing without
injury. Care should be taken the first
few days to- keep the sucklings warm
and dr.. as they suffer more from cold
and wet than chicks; after they are a
week or ten days old they will endure
more OF either than chicks. Care should
be taken. also, to provide shade from
the hot sun. as they suffer greatly
from the heat
Contrary to. the general belief it is
not necessary for ducks to have water
to swim in and giving them all the water
they need to drink is sufficient. 1t lis
advisable to have water dishes SO con-
oOIuSbC0 uhtbu bAlOy S1ii lIOCly
without getting wet themselves and
the water will have to be replenished
many times a day.
It is the early duck that commands
the fancy price Of forty to fifty cents a
pound and as they can be brought to
weigh nine to ten pounds per pair at
ten weeks old it is easy to see that
there is large profit in them.
Mr.. Rankin says: II keep my breed
ing ducks warm and dry during winter
to induce early laying. feeding them
on equal quantities of boiled turnips.
corn meal and wheat bran, and giving
them all the green stuff they will eat
lin the shape Of refuse cabbage, green
rye and ensilage. The young ducks
commence laying about January l.
Ny ducks are all matched and reared
artifcially and are put upon the mar
ket at cost OF five cents per pound. !"
New England Farmer.