The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-04-05
More Than Million Ducklings
Hatchcd There in Year on
Fifty-five Farms.
INDUSTRY STILL CAN GROW
Pond or Stream Not Needed for
Successful Raising Of
Water Fowl.

In certain sections OF America, espe-
cially near the great cities. the duck
growing industry Is profitable and Is con-
Quoted on a very large scale. one of the
great centres OF the business Is Long
island. whore the production OF large
numbers OF market duckl.ngs has been
carried on for more than a half century.
An unofficial survey OF ffty-five duck
farms on the island disclosed the fact
that in 1918 more than 1000 600 duck
:ng5 were Matched. of which very large
proportion were reared to market size.
When dressed these birds averaged about
five pounds In weight and sold at an
average OF IS cents per pound.
Bearing In mind the fact that these
statistics do not include all the farms
producing market duCklings. one will
readily understand that the Long Island
duck industry amounts 10 more than ST.
100000 per year.
Imposing as these figures are, the fact
remains that there IL great opportunity
tor expansion OF the industry. especially
among small operators. In Europe the
real value OF water fowl II more generally
recognized and they are more commonly
bred than In this country. II will always
be observed in sections where the foreign
element secures control OF farm lands the
lumber or geese and ducks maintained
thereon is greatly increased There seems
TO be no good reason why our farmers.
and even tine backyard poultrymen.
should not grow more ducklings. thus
adding variety to the family table or
INCREASING their cash income.
There exists IA general opinion that one
must nave pond or stream in order to
grow ducks successfully. This il not true
H. must be admitted that such con-
venence reduces the labor OF caring for
the stock, but many exclusive duck
s.rgs - i
where breeding stock and youngsters
aike never have access 20 water save
what is placed In their drinking dishes
Therefore, the absence OF Swimming
pond need not cause any one to drop
the idea OF growing few or many duck
lings
There are not as many different breeds
ana varieties or ducks as of chickens but
the list OF distinct kinds is long and ore
mas considerable latitude OF choice Most
commercial growers use the Pekin but
the reasons which compel the use OF this
breed on market plants do not maintain
In the case Of home focks The Pekn.
Aylesbury. Rouer, Cayuga and Muscoyy
are all good table ducks and the Indian
Runner. though small In size, Is esteemed
by many breeders. In addition there
are several wild varieties which are being
more or less successfully bred In cap
tivity.
''hlHH anu NNltsbuTNs are Nn'tp IN
color: Rouens ara "A beautiful combina-
ton OF green, black, brown and gray:
Muscovys are white or white and black
Cayugas are black; Indian Runners are
white or faWn and white.
The weights OF adult brakes of the
various breeds are as follows: Pekin, .
pounds Aylesbury, pounds Rouen. o
pounds: Cayuga. s POT DIS Muscovy, 10
pounds. and Indian Runner 4la pounds
In making a start with ducks al this
season OF the year one Will naturally buy
eggs for Matching or baby duc<llngs
SO at this time We will omit any refer
ence to methods of handling the breeding
birds and merely discuss the details of
rearing the youngsters,
Duck EGGS may be successfully hatched
by either the natural or artificial meth.
DDS On large plants the latter Is used
exclusively, but when few duckl,ngs are
reared the Matching ~ the eggs ana the
care OF the youngsters may wei be left
to motherly hens or In some cases TO the
old ducks
The period OF incubation OF duck eggs
IL twenty-eight days, except In the case
OF the Muscovy duck Eggs OF the latter
require about thirty-hve days
Details OF management Of sitting hens
and incuba'o tors are virtually the same a.
for tho Matching OF hens egga There
Is a tendency amonr successful breeders
to supply more moisture during 10 latter
part Of the period OF incubation than when
Matching chicks. MANY sprinkle the eggs
with warm water Mt this time. believing
that such treatment insures better matches
and stronger ducklings.
Al tho time Of Matching the sitting
hens should be closely watched as il fire.
quently happens that they take "A DISLIKE
Ia their odd looking youngsters and kill
them about Ms soon as they appear The
ducklinas should be removed from such