Milford chronicle., 1914-09-11

AHS pOu' tIg man, ana particularly the
farmer, these days who does not posses,
hne flock Of ducks simply reduces hi,
annual income by a neat little nile N
dollars. While it is generally conceded
that all varieties Of pure bred ducks arc
prontable to raise, yet the Indian Run
ner seems to hold forth as the greatest
money-maker Of any of the waterfowl
family, and the white variety is the
most favored.
Breeders Of this type everywhere are
lamenting the fact that they are unable
to raise them in sufficient quantity TO
take care of the increased demands for
stock and eggs made them. and at the
same time build up larger stock for
themselves.
1t is generally claimed for the Indian
Runners that they will outlay anv vari-
ETY. Of chickens, specially during the cold
or winter mOnths-and by the way. this
claim has never been satisfactorily con
tradicted.
Ducks are extremely easy to raise.
and in majority of cases largely NAV
be kept Oh the waste products of the
tarm-thus greatly reducing the cost Of
Keeping and increasing the profits. Civ
ing as they do, and the quickest returns
for both the time and money invested.
Ducks form the most profitable branch
of poultry raising.
The Indian Runner is indeed a verv
hardy fowl, gains its maturity quickly
and generally begins laying at the age
of five months. They lay well all winter
when eggs are at a premium, fact which
when the feed bill is considered. means
much to the breeder. The duck is some I
what different from the chicken in that
they will do their best when kept on |
straight ration, while to get the best out 1
of hen it is necessary to feed a variety /
of foods.
Quite a few farmers who have made /
a success with the Indian Runner only /
feed once a day, in the evening. and .
even then only a light meal. They are
economic from the standpoint of labor.
giving out little or no trouble to the at
tendant. Starting out in the early morL-
ing, they roam over the farm. and will
not again be heard from until nearly sun
down, when they put in their appear
ance for food.
Do not liberate the ducks, however.
until about ten o'clock in the morning
toinsure your getting every egg. Ducks
usually begin laying at daybreak. and
by ten O'Clock all have performed their
daily perfunction, after which they can
be liberated. The minute the coop is
opened they will start rowing the farm,
only to be seen again at night.
Possibly the best results in the shape
IF egg production can be obtained from
The ducks when yarded in focks of
about thirty each. The Indian Runner
s to the duck family what the Leg
lorn and Ancona is to the chicken family,
n so far as poultry for profit is con
.erned.
The easiest part of duck raising is
lue to the fact that they are not so I
usceptible to disease as are chickens,
IS it is a rare thing for one to see a /
ick duck This materially reduces the r
ost of labor attached to poultry raising s
iesides increasing the profit side of the b
edger.
Three things so common among chick
ms, and which carry them off by the b
each year. is unknown among Il
indian Runner Ducks and this means n
luch to the breeder. These are roup,
apes and lice. If by chance they
hould become infested with few lice, o
ley will not prove disastrous as is the e
ase with chickens so infested. They 4,
On't seem to worry the duck at all. u u
Many persons who never raised ducks, II
nd indeed some that have raised them. ] d'
Dor under the mistaken idea that to
} the thing properly the fowls should
ave access to a stream of water to
Use ducks successfully. Of course,
ater is as necessary for ducks as it is
r chickens. They must have plenty io
water to drink, but not to waddle in
fact they do much better where there nc
no stream. ~
They are good foragers. and will pick AT
the best portion of their living from
e ground when allowed free range. wv
Ie eggs of the duck are much richer III
an those of the hen and about one
rd larger, at the same time the duck sP.
Il lay more eggs than the average hen
a greatly reduced cost of production. De.
Low, cheaply constructed houses are
that is required for housing the III lit'
ck. In building these it is necessary, oia
st 49,, NJ 1oter The sontb end Of the ha.
lse should be left open to admit plenty -,
fresh air. The floors should be com IN
;ed of sand and in winter coating
leaves put over it.
NE question of feeding ducks is
lily solved. If you do not desire to n
n out the fowls in the morning with chi
feeding, as many farmers do, they Joh
be fed the same food which forms the
ir evening meal. A good ration for c
ks will be found in the following afte
ID a mash, both morning and night, Phi
sisting of bran l IS parts, middlings N
art corn-meal } part beef scrap end
inkled with a little salt and pepper N
art. At noon give some form of chill
en- food such as clover, beets, cab witt
e, potatoes, sprouted oats of alfal- N
In addition to the regular feeding hav
avs supply the fowls with plenty Of ton
ter shells, coarse sand, ashes and ents
king water, together with some NJ
ie and you need have no worry chill
Ut the ducks not shelling out plenty and
ggs. NJ
spei