Gloucester County Democrat., 1904-02-25
PROFIT IN DUCKS.
Combined with Chicks and Property
Managed, There's Money Ia Them.

Managed, There's Money la Them.
Is there any money in ducks? I'M
doubtediy, but in some seasons it re-
quires careful computation and close
attention to small details TO receive
pay adequate to the expense, trouble
and time expended.
Is there more profit ia ducks than
there is in chickens? That depends on
several things on the flocxs of ducks,
on the flock of chickens, but more yet
npon the person that has charge Of the
locks. There are quicker returns re-
ceived from a flock of ducks than from
chickens, and less outlay is necessary
In the way of fences and buildings.
The per cent of fertility is higher with
ducks eggs than with chicks, and the
loss from death is much less, but unless
one is careful as to small details, will
stay at home to give ducklings their
meals at regular times, is also a careful
seller and sells just at the right time
ducks will ''eat their heads Off as far
as any profit is concerned, for they are
very greedy eaters and unless they are
rushed from the end of the first week
until they are marketable, at eight or
ten weeks, the feed bill will probably
come to as much as the check for the
ducks soId Besides the slower gain,
the price drops in chunks after a GER
tain time This time differs in different
markets, but it is usually in June that
the bottom falls out of the duck mar
ket. Some years it is a few days ear.
lier than others, so it is best to be on
the safe side by having the ducks out
Ii cents per pound one week to cents
the next is surely enough of drop to
cause almost any one to hustle the
ducks to market.
Keeping ducks through the summer
in order to pick them and sell the feath-
ers is thing we never tried. We were
compelled to keep flock of young
ducks through the summer once, but
they were never picked; were what
would be called stocked through" if
one had been talking of hogs or cattle,
until the fall rise in price. Then they
w GIG 0ldll 1C1 d llOl1lI OClOlC maj hCb-
ing We came out ahead because of
low price of feed, no loss in numbers
and the comparatively high price re-
ceived for the ducks.
A combination of chicks and ducks is
the happiest for an all around profit
producer, but they must be combined
separately, else the combination will
cause the owner more trouble and loss
than all the trust combinations in the
business. Ducks and chicks will not
thrive in the same yard. The ducks
may get along all right, but woe to the
chicks. One can use the hens for incu-
bators. In fact, 1t is necessary to have
old hens or wooden incubators. Ducks
are no good for this business in the
spring While the hens are incubatfng
their own and the ducks eggs the
ducks will be filling the egg basket.
Then the young ducks will be for sale
before any chicks. When the ducks
stop laying, the hens should be laying
some too. BY a combination of two
good breeds. one Of ducks. one of chick
ems. and careful manager for the
fiocks profits should be more and often
er in coming. Pekins are perhaps the
best all around ducks for the farmers
and Rocks or Wyandottes in chicks.
Does it sound too nice on paper? Well,
try 1t and see If it doesn't pay. Be sure
if the round up shows a loss that there
have been leaks somewhere or an un-
toward accident, for it has been proved
to be profitable investment in more
than one trial.-Emma Clearwater in
Ohio Farmer.