Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-07-06
BY JUDGE F. ]. MARSHALL.

/ There is but little question that the
/ domestic duck originated from the
wild duck which was widely distrfb-
uted over the British Islands.
It has fallen to the lot Of England
and America to do most of the per-
fecting of the tame varieties, although
| one, the Pekin, was imported from
China In rather crude state
At this time we have a dozen stand -
| ard varieties of ducks.
The duck, while not nearly so COM
monty bred as the chicken, has great
commercial importance in some sec
tons Of this country. In Philadel-
phia, Boston and New York it is a
favorite with epicures.
Its principal market role is in the
shape OF what are called broilers or
green roasters. As such they use the
larger varieties-the Pekin, AyIes-
bury and Rouen. These ducks will
weigh as high as II pounds to the
pair at maturity
Ducks on Farms.
Although but little attention has
been paid to them by farmers, a good
class Of ducks could be made a very
profitable addition to the farm stock.
So many farmers, particularly in the
South, have tried to keep the old pud-
die duck. as they were called, and
derived but little revenue from them.
Where they have gotten some of the
fine breeds, they have found them
money makers.
The Pekin, as Americanized, is our
most profitable market duck As they
stand to-day, they represent nearly
three fourths of the commercial duck
business Of this country.
New York, New Jersey and Massa-
chusetts have breeders who raise
these ducks by the thousands to De
marked at from two to three months
of age. They grow twice as fast rs
would a chicken during this time.
While the Aylesbury and the ROuen
will make as large a growth, it has
been thought that the Pekin takes less
time, and for that reason they have
been universally used for market pur-
poses
e. w. Fly. Of Chalfont, Pa. writes
for The Reliable Poultry Journal, tell
ing of the remarkable growth of ducks
as compared with chickens. It re-
quires about three months for the
average chick to reach two pounds,
while ducks will reach that weight IN
less than half that time, and are
ready for the market in seven weeks.
Ducks More Profitable.
In experiments conducted for the
purpose Of determining the relative
value Of ducks and chicks, it was
found that at the end OF nine weeks
the average weight of the ducks was
four pounds and 8 ounces, average
weight of chicks two pounds. Ten
ducks sold for rs cents a pound, or
$3.50. After paying the shipping
| expenses, the receipts were SO. IS. The
food cost $2.36, leaving a net income
of 1882. The chicks sold for "a cents
pound, the receipts being $3.74; cost
of food was 80 cents, leaving a profit
of S2.92. The difference IN profit in
favor of the ducks was $40.
Repeated tests have clearly shown
that the Pekin or any Of the larger
| breeds will make wonderful growth Il
they are properly fed and handled.
/ OF course, they must be Of a healthy
| strain, uninjured by being bred 10
| fancy points Good, strong outcrosses
are necessary to the yigor OF any va
riety.
| James Rankin, of Massachusetts,
! one of the first poultrymen Of this
country to take up the production OF
early market ducks, after experiment
| ing with all kinds says that the Pc
| kin will yield the most profits As ne
| raises over 1900 ducks yearly, q
variation Of l cent per pound will
make a difference of $500 in his yearly
| income.
| Early Ducks Make Early Layers.
/ Mr. Rankin not only puts a lot of
early roasters on the Boston market,
! but he keeps over a lot of these for
early layers the following fall and
winter It is as essential for him to
| have the early layers as the early
| roa sters for the markets. They must
| furnish the eggs for Matching the fol-
| lowing seasons crop of ducks
| Mr. Rankin holds tie distinction of
| being the first, or one of the first. to
make a success Of the market duck
| business by Matching his stock in in
| cubators which he himself construct
| ed before the days Of the incubator
| proper
The best breeders have found that
| it does not pay to feed or pamper
| weakhngs. They have found that the
| ducks do much better when they are
| allowed a good run and fed out of
/ doors at all sea sons. This has refer
/ ence to stock ducks, for the young
| sters have no time to get hardy Run
/ ming water is one OF the real essen
| tials for Pekins, where they ale kept
| for practical purposes.
| Feed for Young Ducks.
| One of the best methods Of feeding
Young ducks for about a week is as
/ follows: One measure of corn meal,
| one of middlings. one OF good wheat
| bran; mix with sweet milk or water.
with grit added. Do not have it
! sticky, but nice and crumbly. Second
week-One and one half mea sures of
| corn meal one measure of middlings.
| one of wheat bran, one eighth meas
| ure Of beef scraps, one measure Of
/