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 distrib-
uted over the British Islands
II mas fallen to the lot Of England
and America TO do most of the per
recting Of the tame varieties, although
one, the Pekin, was imported from
China In rather crude state.
At this time we have 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 PhiladeI-
phta, 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.
50 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
me 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 be
marked at from two to three months
Of age. They grow twice as fast as
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, il was
found that at the end Of nine weeks
the average weight Of the ducks was
four pounds and s ounces, average
weight of chicks two pounds. Ten
ducks sold for 2S cents a pound, or
$3.50. After paying the shipping
expenses, the receipts were S9.6S. The
food cost $2.36, leaving a net income
of 1892. The chicks sold for "a cents
pound, the receipts being $3.74; cost
of food was so cents, leaving a profit
of 1922. 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 TO
fancy points Good, strong outcrosses
are necessary to the vigor 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, a
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 1t is as essential for him to
have the early layers as the early
roasters 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
weaklings They have found that the
ducks do much better when they are
allowed a good run and fed out of
doors at all seasons. 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 measures Of
corn meal. one measure of middings,
one of wheat bran, one eighth meas
ure OF beef scraps, one measure of
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