Milford chronicle., 1916-08-11

portunity to turn every possible brancl
of the industry into money. To such
man there looms up in the field of poul
try culture an avenue of much profit
with but little outlay of ready cash.
This avenue lies in the direction o.
the water fowl and the individual mem
Der of that family, the Duck Thi.
branch of the poultry business SHOULD
appeal to every pOultryman, and par
ticularly to every farmer. TO all such
who do not possess flock of fine ducks
it merely means that much real profit is
being lost.
Most persons have a hankering after
"quacks" of some form or other. and
while we would be considerably better
off financially by steering clear of the
majority of them, yet the ''quack' of
the Duck family is not one to be ignored
or passed up as of no value. On the
other hand, there is much real money
made from handling this kind of a
"quack"
There are many different varieties of
the ''quack" family, and while any of
them will yield a good profit if handled
correctly, the particular quack which is
attracting widespread interest at this
time is the Indian Runner. This variety
seems to hold forth as the greatest
money Garner of any of the waterfowl
family, and Of these, the white variety
seems to be most favored.
So great is the popularity of this
special variety of waterfowl that breed
ers throughout the country are lament |
ing the fact that they are unable to |
raise them in sufficient quantity to meet /
the demands made upon them. This de- |
mand is carried to the eggs for Matching |
as well as for the fowls themselves. BY |
supplying the numerous requests for |
eggs the breeders are naturally some
what hampered in the incubation for
want of eggs, thus making it almost
impossible to build up sufficient focks
to take care of the growing demand.
This particular variety has been Sc
lected by large number Of duck breed
ers on account of its laying qualities, as
it is generally claimed for the Indian
Runners that they will outlay any va
riety of waterfowl, or chickens too, for
that matter, and especially is this true
during the cold or winter months. This
claim has never been satisfactorily con- /
One of the most important points in
favor of duck breeding is that they are
extremely easy to raise, as in many '
cases, they are kept almost entirely on q
he waste products of the farm. In a
quarters other than on farms they can g
'e practically sustained on table waste, t
provided, of course. it is fed before de- T.
erioration sets in. Where the table a
waste, however. is not sufficient to keep g
he fowls, the matter of feeding is of n
ut little expense. The great reduction Y
? feed bills, coupled with the fact that
hey give the quickest returns for both
me and money invested, make the
luck a very profitable bird and the =;
lost profitable branch of poultry rails ~
Ig. II
Let us for a time look into some of w
le characteristics of this wonderful ~
ember of the Duck family, in order III
lat we may more thoroughly under
and it and thus be better enabled to
dge Of its qualities as a money maker yo
The Indian Runner is one of the most fie
lrdy specimens of the waterfowl, gains frl
maturity quick, and as a rule, begins ca
ying when five months old All dur tai
g the winter season, when eggs are do
turaily scarce and can be had only at thj
premium, this breed will lay well. Ge
us is point which should never be yO
CROOKED. 1t means much to the
eeder, particularly when the feed bills
to be considered, and they generally 81;
Ducks are naturally less trouble to tat tntt
breeder than are chickens, the feed 'N'
Is are less in proportion as they will
best when kept on a straight ration.
this respect they are far different dia
m the chicken which demands a bal 20
led ration and variety of foods. but
Ducks are good foragers and for that lily.
son many farmers and breeders who
re made quite a success with them r
feed once a day, in the evening, ,,,a,
even then give but light meal, al o,';;; re;
ing the fowls to pick up the major MI;
tiOn of their living from range. WI,
)ucks require less attention than any oii
er kind of poultry and for this reason pro-
Y are economic to handle, at least
n the standpoint of labor, which N
It poultrymen, or rather raisers Of pou
Is, are willing and eager to shirk.
eed the labor question about the av-
&c poultry plant seems to be the
orn in the flesh" and it is often ne
ted, with the result that failure fol- saw.
5. Then, to the man who fears la side
about the plant, the Indian Runner dne
ild especially appeal. havl
-arting out as soon as liberated, the and
ks will roam over the range and 25c.
not again be heard from until nearly The
iown, when they will put in their W.
sarance. They can then be fed and -
r going to their quarters may be
ened up for the night
lcks, as a rule, lay in the morning
5, which is a point to be well con-
red For that reason it is we'll not ?
berate them until about 10 O'Clock
hich time all that are going to lay
that day will have performed that
=. In this way you are not apt to n
eggs as would be the case if they @a-
. liberated early, for once they be-
heir roavings they will not return
larters to deposit their egg, but on GRAD
other hand. will lay in the fields
e the eggs are rarely ever found. EnE
IS usually begin laying at daybreak NJ
BY 10 O'Clock they are all through,
which they should be liberated,
thev will begin their foraOincr 4O7 I