The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-04-05
Growing Green Ducks For Market Or Horne Use
An Industry Which Might PrOfitably Be Increased

ally market from 250O0 to 75.OoO ducklings or green ducks while small ilocks of breeding ducks are maintained on great numbers of general farms and poultry plants throughout the country.
 The flesh of well-grown duc5lings is delicious, and there is a constant demand for such stock in the larger markets. Quotations usually range very high. which fact often prevents people of mod ferate means from purchasing as freely ss they would like to. Fortunately duck lings can be purchased direct from the in- cubator at reasonable rates. and they are not hard to rear, so anyone having a small plat of land can grow at low cost d flock of sufficient size to supply the hone -i.i.
 Professor Stoneburn gives the necessary instructions below
 By Prof Frederick H. Stoneburn:
 In certain sections of America, especial ly near the great cities, the duck grow ing industry is profitable and is conducted on a very large scale. One of the great oenters of the business is Long Island where the production of large numbers of market ducl1lings has been carried on for more than half century
 An unofficial survey of 55 duck farms on the island disclosed the fact that in 1913 more than 100000 ducklinas were matched, of wbich a very large p4portion 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 sta- tistics do not include all the farms pro- ducing market ducklings. one will readily understand that the Long Island duck industry amounts to more than sl,0Oo,0Oo per year.
 Very Popular in Europe Imposing as these figures are the fact remains that there is great opportunity for expansion of the industry. especially among small operators. In Europe the real value of water fowl is more general ly recognized and they are more common ly bred than in this country It will al- ways be observed in sections where the foreign element secures control of farm lands the number of geese and ducks maintained thereon is greatly increased. There seems to be no good reason why our farmers, and even the backyard poul- trymen, should not grow more ducklings, thus adding variety to the family table or increasing their cash income.
 There exists a general opinion that one must have pond or stream in order to grow ducks successfully. This is not true It must be admitted that such a conven- fence reduces the labor of caring for the stock, but many exclusive duck ranches are being proitably operated where breeding stock and youngsters alike never have access to water save what is placed in their drinking dishes. Therefore the absence of swimming pond" need not cause anyone to drop the idea of grow ing few or many ducklngs.
 There are not as many different breeds and varieties of ducks as of chickens, but the list of distinct kinds is long and one has considerable latitude of choice Most commercial growers use the Pel1in. but the reasons which compel the use of this breed on market plants do not obtain in the case of home fiocks. The Pel<in Aylesbury, Rouen, Cayuga and MuseoVy 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 captiv- ity.
 PelSin and Aylesbury are white in color. Rouens are a beautiful combination of green black, brown ana gray; Museoveys are white. or white and black; Cayugas are black; Indian Runners are white or lawn and white.
 The weights of adult drakes of the va rious breeds are as follows: Pekn, 9| pounds; Aylesbury, pounds: Rouen, 9 pounds; Cayuga pounds; Muscovy. 10 pounds, and Indian Runner. Az pounds
 In making start with ducks at this season or the year one will naturally buy eggs for hatching or baby duckinCs. So at this time we will omit any reference to methods of handling the breeding birds nr1d a.nJ..
 the youngsters
 Methods of Matching
 Duck eggs may be successfully matched by either the natural or artificial meth ods. on large plants the latter is used exclusively, but when few ducklings are reared the hatching of the eggs and the care of tho youngsters may well be left to motherly hens or, in some cases to the old ducks.
 The period of incuabtion of duck eggs ia & days, except in the case of the Mus eovy duck. Eggs of the latter require about S5 days.
 Details of mana cement of sitting hens ana incuoators are virtually the same as for the matching of hens eggs. There ia tendency among unsuccessful breeders 10 supply more moisture during the lat ter part of the period of incubation than when hatching chicks Many sprinkle the eggs with warm water at this time neheNlns tlat such treatment insures bet ter matches and stronger oucklings
 At the time of matching the sitting hens should be closely watched, as it freuuent- " happens that they take a dislike to their odd-looking youngsters and kill them about as soon as trey appear. The ducklinss should be removed from such hens and tucked away in padded boxes or baskets and kept in some warm place until placed in coops or brooders
 when the duclSlings fail to release them selves from the eggs for sometime after first cracking the shells, beginners often get impatient and attempt to assist them rms Is generally costly mistake, as usually they do more harm than good Ducklings are slow in matching and should be allowed to take their time In working their way out of their shells
 Ducklings Are Hardy
 It seems that ducklings are much har- dier than baby chicks. They are not sub 1ect to as many diseases; they are not so susceptible to changes in temperature and they sooner reach the weaning age. when the warmth of mother hens or breeders IS no longer required. Tn fact it is a com paratively simple problem to raise a good bunch of them after they have been suc- cessfully matched
 If hens are used for breeding they should be placed in tight coops with small runs attached. When given much libertv they range too far for the comfort and well being of their clumsy charges
 Any good type of artificial brooder will
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