Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-30
RAISING DUCKS AND GEESE
Bulletin Upon the Subject Issued by Depart
ment Of Agriculture.
Ten Standard Breeds of Ducks Known
in This COuntry-Sma1l Cost
Of Geese.

The latest farmers bulletin issued by the
Department Of Agriculture is on the profit
able raising of ducks and geese. The bull
letin Is by George E. Howard, secretary of
the National Poultry and Pigeon Associa-
ton.
The bulletin states that there are ten
standard breeds of ducks raised in this
country. These are the White Picking.
White. Aylesbury, Colored Rouen, White
Cayuga, Colored Muscovy, Gray Call,
White Call, Black East Indian and crested
White. The first six named are considered
most profitable to raise. The two breeds
of Calls and the Black East Indian are
bantams, which are bred mere for the show
room. The Crested White is almost wholly
ornamental.
the last ten years into a f1ourishing indus
try. Prior to that time the duck was not
considered profitable fowl to raise; its
flesh was never priced very highly by the
masses. Ducks were raised without con-
straint in waterways, feeding mostly on
fish and water insects. This food gave the
flesh a strong fishy favor; hence 1t was not
particularly sought after. save by few who
were partial to that class Of diet. The duck
centers Of Long Island and New England
were then producing limited number each
season. and 1t was with difficulty that these
were sold with any profit. In fact, one OF
quoted as saying that he was obliged to
visit the city markets personally and tease
the dealers to purchase his birds. In order
to secure anything like satisfactory prices.
Artificial Incubation.
Artificial incubation and brooding, COM
bined with judicious feeding, have been in
struI1ental in the development Of the In
dustry. Machinery has enabled the duck
raiser to accomplish his ambition Of having
his stock in the markets when prices are
the best, and also of raising large numbers
of birds in a limited space of time. The
season for raising ducks Is about six
months-from February to July.
Duck raising is to be recommended to
farmers as profitable source OF revenue,
and by careful attention to the work, AS
knowledge increases, he scope of the in
dustry may be extended. There are num-
hers of farms In this country today that
are devoted exclusively to raising ducks
averaging from 5000 to 10000 ducks as an
annual output. An idea of the proportions
of the business may be had from the fact
that as high as three tons of feed are used
daily by single raiser during the busy
season. The profits are the very best, and
good incomes may be made when once the
business is thoroughly mastered. But the
reader should not jump imprudently to the
conclusion that these results can be easily
obtained. Duck raising is an arduous task.
one that requires an apprenticeship and abb
success is reached. Those who have been
successful In raising ducks have learned
the business much as one does any other
vocation. The beginner should start mod
estly, and increase his plant as his knowl-
edge of the work increases. The average
farmer has all the facilities for raising a
gcod.y number of ducks. and may with a
Little outlay add considerably to his income
Water Not Necessary.
1t is not at all necessary that ducks
should have access to water to be
raised successfully; they grow and thrive
as readily without. There are successful
plants where thousands of ducks are raised
that have no water save that which is CIV
en- them as drink.
Geese raising is not extensively en-
gagged in as duck raising. The condition
under which they are successfully reared
are almost entirely different than those
necessary for the ducks. Being smaller
the duck can be raised in a more limited
space than can the geese. The latter needs
free range and water. The duck has been
proven to do equally as well without water.
There are many places on a farm that are
worthless for cultivation that could be util-
lied with excellent results in raising geese.
Many farmers profit by this and add to
their incomes annually. There is out little
care and attention necessary for raising the
geese, and the cost of food is also proper
tfOnally small