The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1914-10-15

| be no roup among your duckllngs. pro-
viding other conditions are right.
Neither the Pekin nor the Indian
Runner ducks require j stream or
| pond to swim in. A great many peo-
pie insists that ducks of all kinds re-
quire swimming pool. Right here is
where they fall down."
In case there is no pond at hand. a
substitute is forthwith provided. An
excavation is made in the ground and
then filled with water; and often no
other water is provided.
1t soon becomes foul puddle, and
the result can be imagined OF course
the ducklings soon begin dying off, and
continue to do 80 until few, II any. are
left.
Ducks are naturally very healthy.
II properly cared for they will be free
from disease and will grow very fast
They never have lice.
However, II is not advisable to keep
ducks and other poultry together. Not
even with geese. In fact two varieties
of ducks will not thrive when put to-
gether. II Pekin and Indian Runner
ducklings are fed together, the latter
will be sure to get the worst OF 1t, and
It is the same with the older birds.
All varieties Of ducks require about
the same kind Of food, but some re-
quire more than others.
The Pekin is a market duck, while
the Indian Runner is usually raised for
egg production.
However. there are always some
"culls" and surplus brakes that one
has to dispose Of, and these when fat,
bring good prices In the market.
} There are two ways of distinguish.
Ing ducks from the brakes, namely,
the voice or "quack' and the feathers
in the tail.
The voice of the duck Is loud and
coarse, while that of the drake is
} rather smooth and less loud. brakes
have few curled feathers In their
: tails when matured.
Duck eggs hatch in incuba.ors. The
eggs have clear shells and are easily
tested. We test all of our eggs. nc
matter whether placed In incubators
or under hens.
Be very careful in doing the work
as 1t Is difficult for a beginner to tel
whether an egg is good or bad
At certain stage during incubation
a perfectly good duck egg presents g
very queer appearance to the novice.
When held before strong light, the
shell appears to be half empty. Dom,
get excited and throw the egg away
If you do, the chances are that yor
will destroy duckling.
Ordinary chicken hens can be uset
for Matching duck eggs. II the wealth
er is cool, 1t is best to leave the her
with the ducklings for several weeks
Ducklings get along nicely in brood
ers. but they should only be kept there
at night, and at intervals during tn,
day, when young.
All brooders should be placed in ;
building or under cover. for obvious
reasons.
Iucklings soon outgrow q brooder
After the first few weeks they can ge
t along without artificial heat. KeeI
3 the brooders clean and thoroughly ven
9 tilated.
I Don't overcrowd. Large numbers O
Q young fowl are killed by this over
J, crowding and poor ventilation.
: Spring and early summer is the bes
: time to hatch ducks. The beginnel
: who tries to raise ducks in the winter
9 usually makes failure of 1t.
There is no advantage in hatchin,
4 ducklings In winter except where tn,
market offers special inducements IN
the way OF fancy prices. Use judg
! ment always
Duck eggs require about four week.
. to hatch. When Matched the duckling,
should be removed from the nest o,
incubator. and put into brooder O,
near the kitchen stove until all ar,
= hatched.
Give no food until at least "a hours
old. They will eat almost as soon a.
Matched II food is offered, but II is moi
, advisable to allow them to do so
However. we always give our duck
|, hngs tepid water to drink from the
start.