Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1914-09-24

De no roup among your duck4ngs, pro-
viding other conditions are right.
Neither the Pekin nor the Indian
Runner ducks require a stream or
pond TO swim in. A great many peo-
pie insists that ducks of all kinds re-
qulre swimming pool. Right here is
where they fall down"
In case shere Is no pond at hand, a
substitute is forthwith provided. An
excavation is made in the ground and
then filed with water; and often no
other water is provided.
II soon becomes a foul puddle, and
The result can be imagined. or course
.ae ductlings soon begin dying on, and
continue to do SO until few. IL any, are
left.
Ducks are naturally very healthy.
Il properly cared for they will be free
rem disease and will grow very fast
Taly never have lice.
However. It is not advisable to keep
ducks ard other poultry together. Not
even with geese. In fact two varieties
4 ducks will not thrive when put to-
ssthcr. II Pekin and Indian Runner
iacl.llnGs are fed together, the latter
viii be sure TO get the worst OF IL. and
it Is the same with the older birds.
All varieties OF ducks require about
he same kind of food, but some re-
Iuire more than others.
Tho Pckin is a market duck, while
the Indian Runner is usually raised fer
egg production.
However. there are always some
'culls" and rurplrs 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,
he voice or "quaclf' and the feathers
II tI9 tai
The voice of the duck Is loud and
coarse. While that Of the drake is
-athcr smooth ard less lcud. brakes
'ave a few curled feathers in their
ais when maturcd.
Duck csgs hatch In incubators. The
gss have clear shells and are easily
-csted. We test all of our eggs, no
natter whether placed in incubators
5r under hens.
BE very careful in doing the work,
d 1t Is difficult for beginner to tell
whether an egg is good or bad
At certain stage during incubation
/ perfectly good duck egg presents a
.>ry queer appearance TO the novice.
When held before a strong light. the
she'll appears to be half empty. Don't
set excited and throw the egg away.
II you do, the chances are that you
vii destroy q duCkling.
Ordinary chicken hens can be used
or ha,c-ing duck eggs. If the wealth.
IS cool. il is best to leave the hen
with the ducklinSs for several weeks
blcElings get along nicely in brood
-rs. but they should emily be kept there
AZ night, and at intervals during the
day, when young.
al breeders should be placed in a
building or under cover, for obvious
reasons.
Ducklings soon outgrow a brooder.
After the first few weeks they can get
along without artificial heat. Keen
the breeders clean ana thoroughly ven-
tiiated.
Don't overcrowd. Large numbers of
young fowl are killed by this over.
erowding and poor ventilation.
Spring and early summer is the best
time to hatch ducks. The beginner
who tries to raise ducks In the winter
usually makes a failure OF It.
There is no advantage In Matching
ducklings in winter except where the
market offers special Inducements I'm
the way OF fancy prices. Use judg.
ment always.
Duck eggs require about four weeks
to hatch. When Matched the 6ucklings
should be removed from the nest or
incubator. and put into a brooder or
near the kitchen stove until all are
hatched.
Give no food untfi at least "a hours
old. They will eat almost as soon an
Matched IL food Is offered. but It Is not
advisable to allow them to do SO.
However, we always give our duck
lings tepid water to drink from the
start