The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1914-06-11
Br ANNA oALIGHERl

We rEleeQ tLe EeLA0b ICI u UunUcI
Of years. during which tine We found
that they we're different in many re-
spects from any other variety Of ducks
ve had ever raised
To begin with. The Imperial Pekin
& the best duck for market purposes
that We have yet found: because Il is
the largest. grows the fastest. and
makes the best appearance when
dressed
The Pekfn has q fine heavy coat Of
feathers that bring almost as high q
price IN market as the goose-festhers.
There are many people who would
rather have the vhite-duek feathers
than the colored goosefeathers.
The feathers Of q Pekin duck are
creamy white II the ducks are fed
on white corn their feathers win be
almost pure white. II they eat much
yellow corn. their feathers win show
q rich yellow tint
Ours were never pure vhste. because
ne fed yellow corn meal; not alone.
however. as viii be seen later on IN
this article
Perhaps the worst fault the Pekin
ducks have OF It can be called q faulp
is that they are enormous feeders.
But 10 Offset this they gain in weight
when properly fed. in proportion TO
the amount Of feed consumed.
-Four or Eve Indian Runner ducks
will eat about as much grain feed as
one Pekin- The former are great
I foragers. while the latter stay around
close 10 home.
For eggs alone. the Indian Runner
| Is far superior TO the Pekin, but their
| eggs are small-about the size of large
hens eggs. They lay about twice the
} number of eggs in a year that the
Pekins will. but Pekin duck eggs are
always large. Sometimes they are
about twice as large as hens eggs.
A fully matured Pekin duck is about
tho size Of the common goose (mean-
ing the old-fashioned. spotted goose
that Is SO scarce nowadays).
IN order TO succeed with ducks. II
vigorous stock, and they must be
fresh. not over one week old. Other
duck eggs may be different, but the
Pekin's eggs are worthless for hatch
ing purpose when ten days old.
Duck eggs. as a rule, require four
weeks to, hatch They may be hatch
ed with either incubators or hens.
Only large hens are suitable for
tstching duck eggs, OF course.
II IN incubator is used. keep the
temperature as near l03 degrees as
possible. turning the eggs regularly
twice q day. They should be allowed
time to cool little once each day un-
TIL the twenty-sixth day. or two days
before they are due to hatch
When they begin to pip the shells.
the temperature may be allowed TO
raise to lo4 or los. but be careful not
TO let IT go higher.
Protect the ventilators from cold
drafts, but don't shut out all the air.
no matter what the instructions say.
Any young fowls need air tat least a
little Of ~ while they are Matching.
Don't bother the eggs while they are
Matching. unless II is absolutely neces-
sary, because 1t lowers the tempera.
ture every time the inner door Is
moved.
OF course, In the mild weather It is
safe enough, but even then the door
should be kept closed as much as pos
sible- II the little ducks do not come
out shortly after they pip the shells.
do not become alarmed They do not
come out as soon as chicks. as they
require more time after breaking the
shell. In this respect they are more
like goslings.
Sometimes they viii break the shells
"a hours before they are ready to
come out But they seldom need any
help. AS stated In a previous ar
ucle, a duck egg presents a very
queer appearance at a certain stage
OF incubation, for when held before a
bright light the shells appear to be
nearly half empty.
Don't throw the eggs away, They
may all contain live ducklings. When
they hatch they should not be taken
from the incubator until they are
thoroughly dried on and able TO hold
up their heads.
Then they should be placed In a
brooder, or some place where they
viii be comfortable. II placed In a
brooder see that they have fresh air.
Fresh air, however. is not essentially
cold air, so watch the ventilation.
Have the brooder floor covered with
some clean litter or straw. Cut straw
or hay is best. Don't use sawdust;
the young ducks viii sometimes eat it-
When cleaning the brooder remove
the paper. litter and all. burn at once
and replace with fresh. This is a
great deal easier aud more satisfactory
than scrubbing the brooders- becausa