The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-04-11

She may think of keeping ducks, but
feels that it would be improbable I'm
less she were fitted up like Rankin Dr.
Newman Or others who make a bust
ness of raising broiler ducks for
market.
Many farmers wives have found q
fair prof. in a small Fl Ock of hens,
without the use of incubators, brooders
or other accessories. Tnere is a fairer
profit at a less expense in a small flock
of ducks, no expensive building being
necessary, for we are assuming that
the ducks may have the range of the
farm, or at least. the breeding stock
may. Oar chicks have had the free
dom of our vegetable garden, and
while we have sometimes regretted the
nips taken, yet on the whole as a de-
stroyer of insects they have more than
compensated for the damage they have
done. We generally plant enough
that they may destroy some, but it is
surprising how little it will be.
O04 A4SVO 0CAU OOSO W66 ala ~ SLON :
re had good luck that year. The suc
ceeding houses have been just any thing
that is fit for nothing else, but the
ducks thrive we'll. There are no lice to
contend with as with chickens, only on
the young ones if Matched under hens.
Grease their heads when they are
taken from the nest and again in two
days, and all danger of lice is past for
all time.
We find it easiest and safest to raise
the ducklings until some weeks old in
small pens. Twelve inch boards are
set on edge and staked in place, that
we may move them at will. A pen
IL x IL feet will accommodate fifty
ducklings four weeks if sand, water
and green food r supplied. They
will not hop over the foot high pen
either. After this if you wish they
can take care of themselves. We
would advise feeding at night and
shutting in boxes away from vermin
Have openings in the ends of the boxes
and for greater safety. tack over them
screen wire. Rats are very fond of
young ducks, We put shed roofs on
these boxes to shed water 80 they may
be set out in the orchard or anywhere
we desire. The openings are, that the
ducklings may have plenty of air.
They smother more quickly than
chickens. We arrange for u young
chicks in the same way for nothing is
safe from rats, with us, unless In tight
boxes or houses.
If you choose to yard the ducklings
you can do 80 cheaply as an Is inch
fence will hold them when they are
grown, provided they are allow
ed their liberty, when it might, in some
instances require a "a inch fence.
While in confinement your waste vege-
tables will go a long way towards feed
idg them. Some meat scraps and corn
meal is necessary for rapid growth.
We grow Giant Southern Mustard for
green food for poultry in confinement.
As fine ~ducklings as We ever raised
we're not fed after they we're three
weeks of age, aud were given their
liberty at that time. The flock saved
our garden from destruction from
grasshoppers. Our neighbOrs all lost
theirs. The only damage done our
garden by the ducks that year was to
destroy a small bed of onions. Oar
onions have not been meddled with
since.
To avoid having horse troughs touled
we keep a low broad trough made OF
galvanized iron in the small enclosure
where our breeding stock is every
morning confined until after nine
o'clock, that we may secure all their
eggs This little pen they know at
home and they make frequent excur
sions to the trough, leaving the horse
troughs which are higher and less con
venient unmolested.
If you deslre feathers begin plucklne
in August. You can pluck twice while
the ducks are alive, fstten them anc
take the third crop of feathers wher
you dress them for market or for the
table. You will be surprised to anC
how quickly the manageable daugh
tiers may be provided with pillows
ETC., and they will want a nice pair o
ducks to take to the new home. Will
best wishes for the Social Chat, I am
Hattie B field.
FOR HOUSEWIVES.
tHbinohoeD aro a nT1iaonco in any