The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1916-03-18
DUCK RAISING
By G.. E. CONKEY.

There is another Dranch OF the pOul-
try industry which has never been
fully appreciated. | refer to duck
raising, very profitable occupation.
Ducks are easier to manage than
chickens, have fewer diseases and ma
ture more quickly But it takes good
sense and proper attention to details
to make success of the business.
Ducks are raised chiefly for meat,
but their eggs are valuable food.
With proper management and care,
the peculiar flavor which has always
been an objection can be eliminated.
Duck eggs are large and always COM
mand from five to ten cents more than
hens eggs per dozen in the market.
For cooking they go about one-third
farther. Ducks commence to lay when
about five months old
Ducks are usually Matched and
brooded artifcially in large numbers
but where there are only few it is
customary to hatch with hens. as
ducks prove unreliable. Eggs will re-
quire twenty eight days for Matching.
Young ducks should not be exposed
to the hot sun without available shade
nor allowed in transforms in the
dcwny stage as this will produce
harmful results.
Varieties.
The American Standard of Perfec-
ton recognizes eleven varieties: The
Aylesbury, which is the market duck
of England, a white bird, goou laying
and rapid growing; the Rouen. bril-
liantly colored; the Pekin, which is the
favorite market duck of America. the
largest white duck in the world, of
early maturing and good laying quail
ties; the Cayuga, a black American
duck; Buff, a popular variety; Crest
ed White, Runner, the best laying;
the Swedish Blue; the Muscovy, white
and colored the Gray Call, used most
ly for decoys; and the East India
white and black.
The favorites are the Pekin and
Runner. The Pekin was first brought
here from China in 1878, and is now
used more than any other bird for
market. They are large early ma
turing, pure, white breed ard much
liked for green Duck" farming as
they usually weigh over five pounds in
ten weeks. The standard weight is
about or pounds They are excel
lent layers. The feathers command
double prices as they are pure white,
elastic, and largely MIXED with down.
The Runner is just one-half as large
as the PeEin, ard not their equal for
market purposes. However, they are
wonderful layers. The yearly average
will run from $50 to 1870 eggs year
Per duck. The eggs of the Runner are
about the same size as the larger
breed
How To Start.
Start with a good breed and fine
vigorous specimens. Select your
breeding stock from the early matches,
as ducks will lay about two months
before the brakes are fit to be used for
breeding. At the beginning of the
mating season, mate the drake with
from five to eight ducks and later in
the season increase this to ten or
twelve. 1t is better to have pond or
stream handy but this is not absolute
ly necessary. In raising ducks for
market, keep them from the pools as
they will fatten more rapidly. Young
ducks can be fitted for market as
green ducks" weighing easily five to
six pounds in Eine to eleven weeks.
Housing.
Keep their houses as dry as pos
sibie. They can stand cold and snow
but if the feet become chilled. egg
production will Immediately stop.
Keep the litter on the floor c.ean as
this is their roosting place. Ee sure
and have rat-proof floor.
Feeding.
Keep plenty of water handy day
and night. DO rot allow the young
ducks to go to the swimming places
until they are feathered out. AS the
duck has no crop, do not feed the
heavy grains-mash feed is better
Being natural foragers, they can Sc
cure great deal of food if allowed a
good range. If confined, feed plenty
of green food
As with chickens, feed nothing for
the first AZ hours. Then start the
young ducks on a mixture of two parts
wheat bran and one part corn meal,
moistening slightly with water or
milk. Mix in one raw egg with each
quart, and also little sand or fine
grit. Feed this several times a day
hut do not allow any to stand around
to become spoiled. Make them eat it
all up clean. Another rood ration as
a starting food is moistened rolled
oats with chopped egg added to
each pint. Give them clean water in
dish so arranged that they can put
in most of the head but not their body.
At one week:-Give three parts (by
measure) wheat bran. two parts corn
meal with about per cent. of beef
scrap and per cent. coarse sand or
chick grit. Keep changing above so
as to have equal parts wheat bran and
corn meal at six weeks, with about Is
per cent. meal scraps.