Evening star., 1916-04-30
BREEDING Of DUCKS
ON COMMERCIAL SCALE
Three General Divisions-0rnament-
al Fowls. Egg Producers
and Table Meat.
Duck Culture Requires Smaller
Capital Than Chickens, With
Less Risk.
BY C. S. VALENTINE.
Copyright. 1851

The varieties of ducks best suited to
the production of ornamental fowls
and as pets are many They include
about dozen varieties in our standard
OF perfection: the Mallard duck, semi
domesticated, and surprising num-
Der of wild ducks. of varied and mostly
brilliant plumage and raised chiefly for
exhibition and for sale as ornamental
stock. One that attracts instant at
tention everywhere is the plump little
Chinese Mandarin duck. related despite
his imperialism. to the wood duck of
America
Since the big market breeds, some of
them weighing as high as seventeen
pounds to the pair. alive. are not we'll
ing. il behooves the prospective breed
er to consider which line he likes best
and whether all conditions favor his
choice. The standard of perfection is
definite about shape. weight and feath-
ering of admitted varieties and there
are also few available books dealing
practically with Runners and with mar
ket ducks in general. Really. how
ever. the only ducks worth while to
breed as layers are the (black) Cayu-
gas, the Indian Runners and perhaps
the Orpingtons. now called Buff ducks.
Only the Runner lays an egg exactly
popular white she'll individuals in
some strains of the Runner lay eggs
nearly robin's-egg blue tint. Most
ducks lay well in early spring: but the
The meat breeds may be narrowed
down to the Pekin. here in America,
while England favors the big Ayles-
bury, and the Rouen, a French duck.
The Runner also has a most delightful
tenderness and sweetness, and is we'll
suited to.the epicure. 1t is grown
largely for critical private trade. in
eluding that of high-elass restaurants.
Care Of Duck1ings.
Both artificial and natural brooding
are successful. Small growers prefer
to use hens. After thirty-si hours. the
ducklings are removed to a sanded.
short FILTERED. hoored coop. in a sunny
spot in cold weather, but lightly shaded
during hot spells. 1t is a mistake to
feed them before they demand it; also,
to feed them without supplying water
Of mild temperature. Usually. they
want water first. especially in summer.
The very best first feed is bread. milk
soaked, squeezed and clean-sanded
a day, at first. After three days. lit
tie sprouted oats may be given for one
feed At this time, bran is added grad
ually. with the dust of ground meat
scrap Tnen corn meal, HluOllnRS. a
very little linseed meal. or any good.
smooth usclebuilding feed may be
used. Soaked ground clover and beet
pulp as a foundation for the mash
grow good ducklings.
Penning is best for the youngsters.
Floored coops with close-netted frames
for night closing are imperative il rats
abound for sweet, tender ducklings are
first few days close supervision is nee
essary. lest the fiat ducklings should
get helplessly cast on their backs and
chilled. For three or four days they
quite independent of mothering except
in rain. Commissions from chilling or
bowel stoppage is about the only all
ment to be feared. Indigestion goes
adult birds occasionally have rheuma
tism.
Possibilities in Duck Growing.
Green ducks for market are espe
ciaIly profitable. as the money invested
can be turned over twice as often in a
season, the ducks being marketed at
ten to twelve weeks. Weighing several
pounds. For small farm. a private
ynarket can easily be found
Ducks lend themselves to commercial
production in large numbers. for the
demand for them has grown to enor-
NOUS proportions. A leading Arm in
New York handled 10000 barrels last
keason-
Most of the green ducks which come
fnto New York are listed as Long
Island ducks" They are quoted al
most the entire year, and while the
price In later years is in no sense
nillionaire's price, IT is one of the most
stable ranging low only a short time
and probably averaging near II cents
for the year. If the market fattens.
Ahe stock is sent at once TO the COOL
Sers. there 20 remain, possibly. till win
ter's lack calls for II at fair prices.
Wherever there is waste land with
springs, ponds or water-courses. the
owner owes IL to himself to raise ducks.
Land sloping sharply to stream is