The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1905-03-01

country: here, too, it set the pace in
egg production.
In England it is credited with indi-
vidual records of 225 to $50 eggs per
| annum; in America with 233 each in
focks of 10 and 1872 each in fiocks of
100, and the eggs are large, white
shelled and of a most delicate flavor.
But zone swallow does not make
summer" so, if the record of an in
dividual bird or a flock for a single
season be taken as a criterion, it may
prove deceptive but the poultryman
who sticks to the breed year by year,
will find that with proper care they
will we'll repay him. AS fall and win
ter layers they are especially valuable
in this section, the eggs averaging
about 6 or 61a to the pound.
Early Matched birds, with proper
care, begin laying at about Az months
of age, sometimes little earlier. |
have never had them go beyond seven
months without laying. However,
when they begin laying so young the
eggs are generally small and they lay
irregularly for month or two, then
rest up for another month, when they
generally "get down to business" In
their first laying year they should av-
erage ITS to 100 eggs each and for the
following six or seven years they
should do much better; they do not
"play out" in one year, as does hen.
AS meat producers, especially for
home consumption or for small family
trade, they cannot be excelled, as the
flesh under one year old has no equal
in delicacy. 1t is of deep yellow,
much firmer in texture than that OF
the Pekin, with deep breast; the car
cass will dress at about 4 to AZ
pounds, and while not so fat as the
Pekin it is fat enough to "cook in its
own grease"
The Indian Runner does not find
swimming water essential to sue
cessful life, though where eggs are to
be used for Matching it is doubtless
better to provide swimming facilities,
though this will be at the expense OF
egg production. But at all times the
birds require plenty of water to drink
and in deep vessels.
Feed and care of ducks is something
l am frequently asked about by be-
ginners For the first few days l
feed four or five times a day on mash
exclusively (unless l include green
stuff composed of two-thirds bran,
one-third corn meal, sprinkled with
grit. At four or five days l substitute
shorts for part of the bran, making
one-third each of bran, shorts and
corn meal over this sprinkle coarse
sand or fine grit or mix it through
the mash Never feed without water
ing and in vessels deep enough for
the birds to bury and rinse off the
bills. Of course, if running water is
available they can supply themselves
with liquid refreshments. At two
weeks begin to add beef scraps, at
least once a day, to the mash, till at
six weeks the feed contains 10 to ~
per cent scraps once a day. By this
time the meals may be reduced to two
or three, part of which may be wheat
or cracked corn. If skim-milk can be
had to mix in mash no meat is needed.
But unless ducks are intended Tor
market too much Irish" (green stuf),
in some form, cannot be given. II 1t
cannot be had in better shape they
thrive on a mash containing a large
percentage of vegetables. Parsnlps
are their favorite, though they relish
turnips and carrots. For green feed,
if to be grown in garden, kale excels
everything else. Emerald Isle kale
gives me best results; leaves can be
4~11 nd