The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1898-01-01
DUCKSIN GREATDEMAND
THEIR BREEDING FOR MARKET IS A
GROWING INDUSTRY.

the Detroit FREQ Press, are Deln6
started all over the country, even
where there is not drop Of water for
the birds to swim in. Pekin ducks
are raised rs easily as pigs, and they
can be fattened to weigh eight and
and even nine pounds.
Just think Of ducks weighing eight
and nine pounds! In truth, duck
raising has become IN important
source Of revenue lately to shrewd
and enterprising farmers, and there is
big future before it. There are
many farms in this country to-day
devoted exclusively to Matching and
rearing ducks, and averaging from
5000 to 10000 birds as an annual out
put. A notion of the proportions at
tanned by this industry may be had
from the fact that as much as three
tons of feed are used daily by single
breeder. The profits are the very big
gest, and good incomes ore made
when once the business has been
thoroughly mastered.
A dozen years ago ducks were not
considered profitable to raise, their
flesh being not very highly esteemed
by the people at large. The old
method Of rearing them was to keep
them in ponds and streams, feeding
them mostly on fish and water insects.
This diet gave them q strong fishy
flavor; hence the lack Of popularity Of
the fowl in the markets.
Artificial Matching and mothering,
combined with judicious feeding and
a scientific system Of rearing, have al
tered these conditions entirely. At
present there is great demand for
tame dncks, the average housewife
having come to know that no kind
of meat is sweeter and better-favored.
The quality of flesh, indeed, has been
wholly changed by improved methods
Of treatment and regulation Of diet
for the birds. Machinery has enabled
the duck-raiser to place his stock in
the markets when prices are highest,
and also to rear large numbers of the
fowls in limited time.
The average farmer has all the IA
oilities for growing a goodly number
of ducks, and may with little outlay
add considerable to his income. It is
not at all necessary that ducks should
have access to water, 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 given as drink. 1t
has been o matter of much dispute
which is the better way. Some duck
keepers allow their growing stock free
access to water until they are eight
weeks old, when they are penned and
fattened for market. Others have no
water on their farms, excepting wells.
The only noticeable difference between
"upland" and "water" ducks is that
the latter are of prettier and Of cleaner
plumage than the former.
Houses for ducks are simple affairs.
They are built plain and comfortable,
and have no furnishings whatever. A
duck is differently constituted from q
hen, and must be cared for under diff
ferent conditions. The hen needs
warmer houses and drier surroundings
than does the.duck. A duck does not
mind the cold, if she can keep her feet
warm; cold feet will affect duck as O
frozen comb does o hen, retardine
laying and inducing ailments. The
feathers Of a duck ore almost impene
trable and will withstand almost any
degree Of cold. Again, duck can
not stand the amount of confinement
in house that hen can; she is moro
restless in disposition and is given t
exercise in greater degree than is
hen.
Duck eggs are hatcLed in incuba
tors in just about the same way as
hens eggs. The young ducklings orr
very delicate and sensitive to atmos
pheric changes; they must be KEEP
very warm and protected from chill
ing. The first three weeks Of duck
ling's life is the critical period; afte
that time the loss is very small-hard
. ~ five per cent. Whena bird is tire
. weeks old, it may be counted on TO
market. The baby ducks are snuggle'
, beneath breeders, around which strip
of wooden cloth ore hung to retail
warmth. OF course the brooder-hous
is artiicially heated. But in every dc
, tail system must govern; the slightes
} carelessness is apt to cause heavy loss
5 After being arti6cially mothered j
3 the warm brooder-house for thre
l weeks, the ducklings are transferre
> to the cold brooder-house, which mus
also have some artificial heat if th
Q birds are being raised for very earl
! market. Here they ore kept unit
D they are six or seven weeks old, whc
they are transferred to larger quarter
g known as "growing houses" Fro]
i this time on they are pushed for nal
ket, being supplied with the most ia
tening food and as much Of it as the
will eat AT ten weeks old thev Ougl