The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1909-04-17
MoRE 9aoEITAaI-E I'm agNa.

MORE PRoFITAaLE THAN HENS.
Ducks Are Easy 10 RaIse ana Mako
Good Money,
X rs, q sa9 "
Ducks are more profitable than.
chicks II we raise the right kind and
give them the proper kind OF iced.
Duck raising has developed within.
the last 20 years into aourishing
industry. Prior to this the duck was
not considered q profitable fowl 70
raise. Its flesh was not in general
favor, on account Of its being oblig-
ed to pick up its living as best it
could along creeks and marshes, liv-
ing mostly upon fishes and water in
sects, and of course this gave Its
flesh a strong tishy favor, says the
Indiana Farmer. But ducks will re-
spond very rapidly when handled for
profit. They are very heavy feed
ers and will grow twice as fast as
chicks: On account Of the duck be-
ing without crop the food passes
directly to the gizzard, and conse-
Quently the food must be in soft
mushy state. Soft food, togetrer
with grass and vegetables and ami
NAL food. is their natural. diet.
Too much hard grain does not
agree with these birds, and they will
not thrive on it. To produce best
results the food. must be such as will
be easily assimilated. From time Of
Matching to FIVE days old the follow
ing mixture is all right: Crackers or
bread crumbs and corn meal. equal
parts; hard boiled eggs about is per
cent; sand about s per cent; mix
with water or milk and feed four
times a day. From FIVE to 20 days old
feed wheat bran two parts, corn meal
one part, beef scraps per cent, sand
5 per cent, green food 10 per cent;
mix with water and feed four times
day, The hours for feeding ducks
are a. M, 10 a. M, p. m, and 6
p. m.
The food OF the duck is such as to
require drink while eating. When
feeding always replenish the wa.e-
trough with pure fresh water, rs a
duck while feeding will take few
mouthfuls then go to the trough for
a drink. The amount of feed varies
as does their growth. The growth
should be about one-half pound a
week; then as 1t increases they re-
Quire an additional quantity Of food.
Feed each meal what they will eat
clean with relish. II is better they
should have not enough than to over
feed them. Houses for ducks are
simple affairs; they have no fur
nishing whatever. A duck is differ
emily constituted from a hen and
must be cared for under different
conditions. The hen needs drier,
warmer surroundings. A duck does
not mind the cold at all II she can
keep her feet warm. Cold feet will
affect duck as a frozen comb does
a hen, retardlng laying and inducing
ailments, Again, the DUCK cannot
stand the amount OF confinement in
house that a hen can. as she is
more restless in disposition. Her
ceasless motion aids the digestive
organs and keeps her in good health.
There is quite a number of differ
ent varieties of ducks. None stands
higher in popular esteem on the
farm than the White Pekin. They are
easily raised and are considered
among the best for table use. They
are very large, some reaching as
high as 20 pounds pair. When
handled and fed properly ducks are
quite profitable. On account of few
er diseases and not getting affected
with vermin, they are more easily
managed and more profitable than
chickens.