The Ellensburg dawn. [volume] (Ellensburg, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1913-04-17
TNE VALUE Of
SMALL FARMS

,ae.. wberc persons brains
u '"s, he exercised it is on the lit.
j tls farm. Both production ana
.,, have to be managed with the
'. nSs still and business sense There
ass - ,oom for waste. Products should
=, a kind for which there is a Ger
w.. y !" demand, and then they need to be
saId at the right time and in the r's"'
way. go .,u, ovortole tho
' v.r, or. at best. it will only be Il
s.,,rsv success. Studying the needs
= .ha market and observing the prices
hitch commodities will command
wben fresh and wholesome are I'm
'".tort features of modern farming
NJ tbe thousands Of people who con
dssr noultry raising perhaps nineteen
i every twenty think of chickens
They need to broaden their vision and
study ducks. ,,
nrck farms now existing could be
rultinlied many times over without
charging the supply beyond trade re-
ouIr.mepts Prices are on very prof
,tahle basis. Ducks at the age OF six
10 eicht months sell readily at 81 to
r@ The outside cost of raising
them need not exceed % cents. They
an less liable to disease than are
chickens. Eighty or 80 per cent of
thsm will come to maturity. Wet
weather. while death to chickens. is
favorable to ducks
The food Is much the same as for
ether poultry. By getting plenty of
clover ducks will thrive without grain
Or other expensive articles of diet
They are good foragers on a farm and
vet cause less trouble than almost any
other kind of fowl.
When 1t comes to fattening time in
the fall grain is necessary One Of the
drst essentials In the summer Is a
swimming pond or tank This must
not be omitted from the yard or field
where the ducks are kept. Plenty of
clean water for drinking or to splash
b will Just about insure healthy and
thrifty fock
To get started In the duck business
| would recommend the little farm
owner to buy several sittings Of eggs
from reliable breeder. ANY stand
ord stock is good enough Give the
eggs to sitting hens. ten or dozen to
each. II Is not wise to start in more
extensively, for one seasons expert
ence Is necessary.
II tLilty female birds of good size
and In good condition are selected late
10 the fall and placed in a roomy pen
they will naturally produce about 1900
eggs during the season. beginning in
mldwinter. Then incubators may be
brought into the scheme of produc
uon The first dozen eggs from Il duck
IRE not certain to be fertile. and it is
Oest TO give them to a hen, reserving
me incubatOrs for the production of a
regular supply of marketable fowls.
II the mating is normal the hatch
ing will be 10 to 40 per cent Of the
whole egg supply. and by giving the
oucSllngs ordinary care in the brooder
nearly all of them will come to ma
mr1ty For one day after Matching no
iood Is to be given. Then the rations
" bran and cornmeal may begin
Heavy feeding is to be avoided.
assuming that the place will pro.
euee from 1000 to 5000 ducks, the in.
euoators should be started as soon as
esslole In the spring. Aim to have
aem going by the LIST of March. They
VIII oe needed right along till fall
seeln selling at any time after the
eucEs are two months old.
inis commodity. If nicely handled,
!. universally regarded as a delicacy,
.uu Us prices are liberal there is q
''sauy income after the first year. The
.u'e' which insure success are simple.
ysanhness In the pens is imperative.
s''aouen ducks like to paddle about on
wei ground in summer. Plenty of
s'sen 1000 is another essential. and
81, y. must be supplied all winter.
.ue pouIterer should send away once
49,. .saI 70 recognized breeder for o
ms,. s VI eggs In order that GOOD
- -.'ss may be kept on hand. In this
- ~, slze and high breeding qualities
VIII be assured.