Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-05-21

faSt and they are ready to market at
and 10 weeks.
Two illusions regarding duck raising
must be dispelled before we 60 any
further, and they are: Ducks do not
need water to swim in and neither do
they need free range In the culture
OF breeding ducks. however, I should
allow both, but these lines only refer
to raising green ducks. These are bet
ter without them
The first consideration is the breed.
The Pekfn is by far the best for our
purpose, and no other will answer so
we'll. >s
Have good warm buildings with dry
floors. The duck is impervious to cold
except its feet, and if it is compelled
10 sleep in cold, icy or wet places will
not lay early, and it is early eggs that
are fertile which we want
AS the duck has no crop it cannot
digest hard grain as easily as do chick
ems, and we must feed largely of soft
FOODS. James Rankin, the duck man."
recommends for laying ducks ration
composed Of equal parts of cornmeal,
wheat bran and low-grade flour. One
fourth of this feed should be composed
| So>SeD%ASs', SoonCt, anu ttll IIc SIGGll
rye and cabbage they will eat. This
should be fed night and morning and
at noon little corn, wheat and oats.
This has proved an ideal ration, and
ducks receiving it lay fertile eggs
Now comes the question Of incuba-
ton. Hens are we'll enough in their
way, but when 1t comes to raising really
early and profitable green ducks the
incubator and brooder must be used.
However, this question must be set
tied by each individual as best he can.
When the ducklings are Matched do
not feed them for at least twenty-four
hours, then give them a ration of four
parts wheat bran, one part cornmeal,
with enough low-graue hour to make
the mass crumbly, add about per cent
sharp grit. When they are a week old
add some sort of animal feed, with
some roushage, such as cabbage or
lettuce chopped fine. During the first
two or three weeks feed them Ave times
day, later four times a day, so that
at five weeks of age they receive three
meals day.
OF course ducks should have water
for drinking before them all the time;
they need more much water than chicks.
and need it while they are eating
their meals. 1t is needless to say that
at all times it must be fresh a.
pure.
In all operations cleanliness must be
the watchword, for filth is a continual
menace in all farm operations. After
each meal clean the feeding boards
or troughs; dirty, sour feed is not GO
ing to push your ducklings along.
Remember your are preparing the
ducklings for quick and early returns
and therefore you must keep the birds
warm, clean and growing all the time.
When they are week old they
should be allowed a small range OF
growing wheat or rye when the wealth.
er permits.
If everything has gone well the duck
lings should at ten weeks weigh five
pounds and be ready for the market,
To kill the duck pierce the roof of the
mouth with a sharp double- edged knife.
srtike the head sharply and then be-
gin at once to pluck the bird When
plucked clean put in a cool place to get
perfectly cold and stiff, and then pack
in barrels with plenty of broken ice
and ship at once. Do not draw the
ducks nor cut off their heads or feet
A week Or ten days before the green
ducks are ripe" make arrangements
with commission man to take your
ducks. It will be seen that only those
who are near rapid transit and who
are able to procure ice should attempt
to supply the summer market with
green ducks dressed-Mrs. j. DeMarr,
Maplewood, Mo.