The Muskogee cimeter. [volume] (Muskogee, Indian Territory, Okla.) 1901-19??, 1904-06-09
Pends and Rape for Ducks.

we ever used . pond In connection
with the raising Of ducks, and the
result was 20 satisfactory that we will
give an account Of It for the benefit
OF the rea0ers of your paper. We
began the season with seven ROuen
ducks and two brakes for breeding
stock. Back Of tho barn there Is
quite . good sized pond, and. as we did
not need the water for the stock, we
allowed the ducks to enjoy 1t. They
spent their days In II and very profit.
able days they proved. They found all
the corn they wanted at crib near
the pond. and all the care they re.
ceived was that they were brought W
to tho duck house near tho house at
night and were fed q bran masn each
morning. More often than not we
found seven eggs each morning. We
sold . good many eggs and raised
owe: ITO ducklings. So much for the
utility Of pond for breeding stock.
We were Q little afraid OF turtles
In the pond, so kept the ducklings
away from 1t until Ave or six weeks
old. They were kept In q yard near
the house and the well, 30 the work
OF feeding. watering and caring for
them Was az light as possible. Dur.
Ing this time they were at Nrst fed
four times. afterwards three times
day. and were given lettuce. onion or
beet tops. endive or cabbage leaves
from the garden for green food. What
Q Jubilee there was when we first
drove about ffty of these fellows to
the pond. Such darting about, diving
and splashing. Only those who have
watched the antics of ducks in water
can imagine the scene.
After that they were fed every
morning With enough drinking water
TO wash the food down 80 they could
eat a good breakfast, then were driven
to the pond. which soon became an
easy task. BY feeding time In the
evening they were anxious to be
turned back. 80 they could come to
the house for supper and to their
house to sleep.
Our neighbors laughed at us driving
our ducks to water. There was lit.
tie yard containing some blue grass
and more weeds near the pond that
was disced early In the spring and
sown with Essex Rape. The ducklings
needed no teaching as to the useful.
ness OF this plant. but freely helped
themselves as had the old ducks all
spring.
When II was not convenient to leave
them for an hour or SO In the rape
patch. the rape was moved and car.
Tied to them. They were as anxiohs
for !. as for feed OF corn or mash.
We never had ducklings grow faster
or seem harder. II our yards had
been 80 arranged that the ducks could
have gono freely to the rape patch
and the pond. without being let
through the gates. It would have been
less trouble and no doubt have been
better. but there was other stock In
the yards. making 1t necessary to
keep them closed.
One thing absolutely necessary to
success In raising ducks Is that they
must all. young and old alike. have a
clean. dry sleeping place. 1t does not
need to be warm. but II must be dry.
A littlo carelessness In the matter OF
supplying plenty Of dry bedding when.
ever II Is needed. and the little fellows
have cramp, or with either young or
old, rheumatism. and then We have
dead ducks. This Is about tho only
disease from which ducks suffer, and
with reasonable care can be avoided.
Danger from sudden storing at
night. also from marauding animals.
can be In . great measure avoided by
yarding the. ducklings 30 they cannot
wander far from their house at night.
Now q few. words for the Rouen ducks. !
What is more beautiful! The drake,
with his bright green head. claret,