Milford chronicle., 1914-09-11

farmer, these days who does NOT n6sseee
tne flock OF ducks simply reduces his
annual income by a neat little nile of
dollars. While it is generally conceded
that all varieties of pure bred ducks are
profitable to raise, yet the Indian RIM
ner seems to hold forth as the greatest
money-maker of any of the waterfowI
family, and the white variety is the
most favored.
Breeders of this type everywhere are
lamenting the fact that thew are unahle
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 any vari
ETY. of chickens, specially during the cold
or winter months-and by the wav. this
claim has never been satisfactorily CON
tradicted.
Ducks are extremely easy to raise.
and in a majority of cases largely NAV
be kept OF, the waste products of the
farm-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 |
what different from the chicken in that
they will do their best when kept on .
straight ration, while to get the best out .
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 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 morn
/ 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 hberate 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
of egg production can be obtained from /
the ducks when yarded in focks of
about thirty each. The Indian Runner
is to the duck family what the Leg
horn and AncOna is to the chicken family,
in so far as poultry for profit is con-
cerned. !
Inc easiest part of duck raising is
due to the fact that they are not so I
susceptible to disease as are chickens,
as it is a rare thing for one to see a K
sick duck. This materially reduces the r
cost of labor attached to poultry raising 8
besides increasing the profit side of the b
ledger. b
Three things so common among chick
ems, and which carry them off by the b
thousands each year. is unknown among ii
Indian Runner Ducks and this means n
much to the breeder. These are rOup,
gapes and lice If by chance they
should become infested with a few lice, o
they will not prove disastrous as is the q
case with chickens so infested. They =,
don t seem to worry the duck at all. u u
Many persons who never raised ducks. II
and indeed some that have raised them. a'
abOr under the mistaken idea that to
10 the thing properly the fowls should
laVe access to a stream of water to
'aise ducks successfully. Of course,
water is as necessary for ducks as it is
or chickens. They must have plenty 10
# water to drink, but not to waddle in
n fact they do much better where there no
5 no stream. W.
They are good foragers, and will pick Al
% the best portion of their living from
he ground when allowed free range wv
he eggs of the duck are much richer III
han those of the hen and about one
nird larger, at the same time the duck sP
ill lay more eggs than the average hen
t a greatly reduced cost of production. DC,
Low, cheaply constructed houses are ,..
\ that is required for housing the lit' III
uck. In building these it is necessary, ol5
owever, to see that the roof will at
asst turn water. The south end of the ma.
ouse should be left open to admit plenty -,
{ fresh air. The floors should be COM III
1sed of sand and in winter a coating
leaves put over it.
The question of feeding ducks is
lsily solved If you do not desire to \
i'm out the fowls in the morning with chi
It feeding, as many farmers do, they lob
m be fed the same food which forms the
cir evening meal. A good ration for {
lcks will be found in the following : aftS
eed a mash, both morning and night, Phi
insisting of bran Is parts, middlings n
part corn-meal } part beef scrap end
rinkled with little salt and pepper n
part. At noon give some form OF chill
cen food such as clover, beets, cab witt
pc. potatoes, sprouted oats of alfal- y
In addition to the regular feeding hav
ways supply the fowls with plenty OF ton
ster shells, coarse sand, ashes and ent:
mixing water, together with some N
ade and you need have no worry chill
out the ducks not shelling out plenty and
eggs. NJ
spei