The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1900-05-23
RAISING FOWLS FOR MARKET.
Duck and Chicken Ranch One Of West
moreland County's Industries.


One of the novel Industries" of this
county. and the only one of its kind in
the State west of Harrisburg, says the
Westmoreland County Democrat, is the
duck and chicken ranch owned and con-
Quoted by Harry o. Steiner, of Manor
Station. The plant consists of one
story feeding and shelter house. SOxl5
feet, from which extend u parallel pens,
made of woven wire sOx6 feet. At the
present time Mr.. Steiner is engaged in
raising ducks, all of which are hatehed
in incubators and then placed in brOoding
machines, from which, at IA 3 age of one
week, they are transferred 70 the pens
In the Il pens are ducks ranging from
one to ten weeks old, and as there are
usually from 400 10 500 of them in the
pens at a time, the amount oe quacking
is something extraordinary. Tho eggs
from which the ducks are hatched are the
product of a large flock of old Imperial
Pekin ducks, kept in breeding house,
l5x4S feet. adjacent n the little duck
pens. This latter building is soon to be
enlarged 10 l5xss feet.
The duck raising season runs from
March to October and the chicken season
the balance of the year. At ten weeks of
age the ducks are killed, stripped of their
feathers and shipped to the New York
market. to which point the chickens are
also sent MI. Steiner's output this year
will run about > 900 ducks and $500 chick
ems. The ducks weigh about six pounds
each and the market price ranges from
40 cents per pound at the opening of the
season TO 20 cents at the close. Chickens,
or "broilers," as they are called, weigh
from three to four pounds per pair. aud
the market price varies from . TO 20
cents per pound. The shipments Of ducks
begin in April, and Of chickens about
January lst. Soft feed, with mixture
of beef scrap and green cut bone occa-
sionally, is given the ducks, while the
chickens are also kept on soft feed, with
intervals Of hard grSin- The ducks con-
sumo $50 pounds Of feed and drink 100
gallons of water daily, no swimming
place being provided. Up TO their fourth
week the ducks are fed FIVE times per
day; 20 seventh week four times. and to
tenth week three times. The loss OF
ducks is about two per cent, and of
chickens from Ave TO eight per cent
The ducks are killed by Sticking"
them in the roof Of the mouth with a
doable-edged lance. Some science is
required in this operation, for if properly
stuck" with the blade penetrating the
brain. the duck will bleed well aud the
feathers almost drop of; but il the job is
bungled. the feathers seem to be riveted
In the flesh and can scarcely be- pulled
out An expert picker will clean up 10
20 ducks per day. while an ordinary hand
will clean about 40 o. more The feathers
obtained average probably 81 cents per
duck
Between chickens and ducks, the latter
are more easily raised and profitable.
Mr.. Steiner hss at present about sixty |
turkey eggs in process Of Matching, as an |
experiment, although the raising Of these
fowls for market is not regarded favor
ably. as they are delicate TO handle and
the losses are heavier than in the breed |
ing OF chickens or ducks.