Milford chronicle., 1916-06-16

The careful and attentive bushes:
ruan takes advantage of every opportu
nitv to add to his income, and IN many
cases. this is the real reason for his sue
.cess. This may well be said of the poul
try1nan. If you are engaged in the
breeding and raising of poultry for whai
there is in it, you will not only give the
birds your careful attention, but will dc
everything possible for the sake OF IN
cre2sing your income.
The Doultryman who neglects or fails
% take into consideration the DUCK
greatly reduces his annual income by
many s-bones, " otherwise known as dol
lars. Ducks are big source Of income
and should be a part of every poultry
nlant and on every farm. provided how
ever. that there is room for them. This,
Of course, is not possible on every poul-
try plant, particularly the very small
0nes. but where there is room they
should be added to the plant. :,
While it is generally conceded that all
varieties of ducks are profitable to keep,
vet the Indian Runner seems to lead all
others in point of popularity and they
are looked upon as the largest money
makers of the waterfowl family. The
most favored or popular variety Is the
whites This very beautiful waterfowl
is in big demand today and great trou-
bic is experienced in attempting to get
a sufficient quantity Of them. So great
is the demand for this popular variety
that breeders all over the country are
111able to raise them in sufficient guam
titv to supply the demands made upon
them, and ct the same time, TO retain
enough for themselves.
rW1o Ianoopd for aOOg for Matching is
ss1uaHy as strong as for the fowls them
selves, thus hindering many breeders IN
building up a larger stock for them
selves. Indeed, so good is this fowl that
MANY poultrymen who indulge in their
raising, claim that they will outlay any
variety of chickens, particularly during
the cold or winter months, and have
vet to find where this claim has been
satisfactorily cOntradicted.
Duck eggs are at the present time IN
great demand in many Of the country's
largest markets and people are gradu--
ally getting to use them in the place OF
hen eggs. While it is true that they
are slightly stronger than the hen egg,
vet when one comes to consider that one
duck egg will answer where two hen
eurs are required, for cooking and other
n1TDOses. the cause for their popularity
can readily be seen.
These facts, coupled with that of the
ease with which ducks are raised, should
be sufficient reason for their addition to
anv poultry plant. In vast majority
of eases ducks may be raised almost ex-
rlusively on the waste products OF the
farm; which will greatly reduce their
cost Of raising, and at the same time,
increase the profits from the place.
This, ] believe, should be sufficient ar
gument to cause every farmer to imme-
diNfely begin their raising, If he has not
already done so. OF course, on smaller
plants they cannot be raised as cheaply
as on the farm, but even then, they are
less expensive than a corresponding
number Of chickens.
Then too, ducks give quicker return
for both time and money invested than
chickens, and form in all, the most val
uzbse branch of poultry raising.
But let US for a little while look at
the Indian Runner Duck. This is in
decd a very hardy fowl. 1t natures
v-erv quickly and generally begins lay |
Snr when FIVE months of age. In the
water. when eggs of all classes are to
be had only at a premium, the Indian
1lunner will lay well. This alone should
s1e an inducement in favor of the adop-
eiau Of the duck because it is at this
season of the year that the price Of
feed Jumps, and a smaller consumption
--uunled with an increased egg yield
Vph5ch means ready money, should mean
lrlsa.sb to the breeder. 1t will help to
ode over the non-laying hens at this
,sezaon and enable you to get a profit
Nrau1 YOUR plant during the winter as
well as at other seasons of the year.
While it is of course necessary to give
;1he duck some attention and care, yet
Ef T. not so necessary to furnish a va
,rfetp Of fOOdstuffs as is essential with
chickens. Ducks will do their best when
Iueut On straight rations, while to get
sAe same result from the hen, it is nee
sessary te furnish a variety Of foods.
That ducks consume less food than
chickens is evidenced by the fact that
wzur farmers who have made success
n raising Indian Runners only feed
them once a day, in the evening, and
chen only on a very light meal. The
fouri is also economic from the stand
rloirt Of labor as they are little or no
erouhle to the attendant
Ducks are Of a rowing nature and
when liberated will wander off and Sc
cure the biggest portion Of their food
tr0r1 the SOIL, ana OIUmes Will only De
seer toward sundown when they return
for their evening meal. For this reason
a IS necessary to keep them penned up
sf least a portion of the morning, in or
der to keep from losing the eggs. Ducks
are early layers, most Of them deposit
fug their egg early in the forenoon. BY
rice o'clock almost every duck in the
fIoel will have laid, and for this reason,
81 s well to keep them cooped until that
rinse. The duck is unlike the chicken
- usually they begin laying at day
nrsak. with the result that by nine or
Fer o'clock you have gotten all the eggs
1fnt will be laid that day.
The best results from ducks are gen
sralIv obtained when yarded in fiocks of
.fo,lt thirty each. Make no mistake in
49, selection Of your waterfowls. In
ere choosing Of poultry for profit one
turallv turns to the Ancona and White
r epborn. on account Of their great egg
- Qualities. The Indian Runner
iFcx. ike these breeds of chickens, is
queen Of the waterfowl family.
Ducks are less susceptible to disease