Middletown transcript., 1917-03-24
(By ANNA GALIGHER0

IMMENSE DUCK FAF
(By ANNA GALIGHER)
If is only q few wears since the Run
ner duck first made it's appearance IN
America. They came originally from
the West Indies, where they have been
raised for years, chiefly as egg produc-
ers. They derive their name from
their racy, upright carriage.
In color they are fawn and white,
with yellow shanks and light green
bill; the latter being sometimes
splashed with black.
The body is long and narrow and Is
carried in an almost upright position.
Neck is long and thin, with finely
formed head.
The Runner is, we think, not only
the most beautiful but also the most
profitable of all the duck family. They
have the Pekin beaten mile, and are
steadily gaining in favor.
The Runner is rather small, fully
matured ducks weighing from four to
five pounds; brakes from five to six
pounds. live weight. But they grow
very rapidly while young and are easy
to raise. What they lack in weight is
more than made up for in their other
good qualities.
To begin with, they are very pro-
life layers, beginning when they are
about six months old. Their eggs are
pure white and little larger than a
Plymouth Rock hens.
Eggs Are Superior.
They are superior in quality to any
ducks eggs that we have ever eaten,
and as rule they bring better price
in the markets.
The ducklings reach a marketable
size about twelve weeks old. When
forced they will weigh four to five
| pounds at two months.
The meat of Runner is of superior
quality fine in grain, juicy and excel
lent in flavor.
The eggs are in good demand also.
In winter when eggs are high, the
Runner Is ION the job" Any enter
prising person can work up trade
among hotels and restaurants that
should prove highly profitable.
There is no danger of strong COM
petition, as comparatively few poultry
raisers have taken up this branch OF
the industry, Notwithstanding the fact
that nearly all kinds of poultry prod
ucts are bringing unheard-of prices in
the open market.
Duck culture in the past has been
more or less neglected, owing to the
general belief that ducks cannot be
successfully raised without stream
or pond of water. The fact is, how
ever, that the Runner requires only
sufficient water to drink.
They are small feeders as compared
with other ducks. One Pekin viii
consume as much feed as two Runners
md then not be satisfied. Unlike th'
former, they are great foragers.
In summer the Runner, when givel
free range, will find the greater par
of his living in the fields. But o
course, when being fattened for mar
ket, they need some grain. 1t woul'
be we'll to say right here that for bes
, results the grain should be eithe
ground or cooked.
Duck Raisers Fail.
A great many wOuld-be duck raiser
fail because they insist upon feedin
the ducks, both old and young, Who'll
! grain.
The matured birds can get along, bu
, the young ones most certainly cannO
Don't try to raise ducklings on Who'll
wheat, cracked corn and "chick feed.
They simply cannot digest it. Abou
t the only kind of grit that young due
8 will eat is sand, and whole or cracke
q grain requires something sharpe
!. than sand to grind it.
Those who have Runner duck
would do we'll to keep them over viii
ter and see what they will do towar
>. keeping the egg basket filled whe
Il biddy is on strike.
3 Begin by culling out all surpll
T. brakes and understood specimens.
the ducks are expected to furnish egs
next spring for Matching purposes, no
is the time to procure brakes fro
- some other flock.
Il It is not a good plan to keep close
u related birds. One drake for eve
e seven or eight ducks is about right.
IL brakes may be kept for seven veal
G. but ducks will not lay so well VIII
of that age. Few duck raisers ca
to keep old brakes unless they happ
to be high-priced birds.
g, In many sections Runner ducks a
le so scarce that good specimens bri
Of almost any price asked.
er A house Is by 20 feet, with yard {
e tached, will be large enough for thirt
FIVE or forty ducks to stay in at nigl
and during the cold days in winter.
y, inexpensive House.
ill rf +baro is no suitable house on t
be place, q duckhouse can be built
MS small cost. Rough lumber may
DIS used for the floor and siding. I
N rafters, plates and posts may be ma
of poles cut in the woods. Any ki
Of roof that will turn water will ;
swer.
at If the house is to be used for you
lr- ducks during the spring and SUNNI
OF months, there should be two ial
oil doors. one at each end of the hou
or door at one end and wind