Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-15

try raisers of every degree who are
expected to mobilize their knowledge
Economical fowls such as the Mus.
covy. of healthy. rapid growth and
thrifty habits are desirable. Duck
linGs in barn or backyard are mar.
ketable in three to four months and al
ways in demand.
In these days when the world is re-
verting to fundamentals--over to-mor-
rows food supply-the man featured
is the producer. What may have been
last years hobby is to-day's essential.
The backyard pUul
with hens for home grown delicacies.
now occupies the enviablc position of
being able to contribute materially to
the worlds dire need. Poultry expert
ence acquired in leisure assumes its
real value as the demand comes for
more meat and more eggs. Everywhere
the farmer and his wife. the poultry
man and the man with a few hens, feel
the stimulus not only OF II. c.. L., but
of the appeal, and are preparing to do
their part.
Complicating their task is the strenu-
Gus problem of economical production.
This years poultry must be fed largely
on waste: such as screen wheat, faulty
corn. broken grain. garden left-overs.
Even the table scraps that support in
digent and indolcnt cats can be con-
verted into a commodity. Pithy vege-
tables and marble-sized potatoes when
cooked are relished by poultry.
Worth of Economical Fowls.
Poultry recommends itself instantly
as a good investment nowadays. None
beside the hen has a better letter OF
credit than the Muscovy duck, war
ranted noiseless. inoffensivc. adapta BILE
and early maturing. Though COM
mon fallacy believes 1t musky, ii is un-
noticeable. Geese on good pasturage
are as economical till ,fattcning time
Turkeys run UP big board bill after
September. No other fowl approach
ing the weight OF the Muscovy can so
satisfactorily support itself from start
to finish. Though an honest mem
Der Of the duck tribe. it lacks many
faults of its kinsmen. For that rca-
son any person reasonably situated can
raise a few MuScovics.
One drake and three to six ducks. ac-
cording TO environment. are sufficient
for the average barnyard flock. Their
health and independence recommend
them TO the negro. In the South they
form the chief feature first of cabin
scenes; Of cabin feasts. later.
The extra grain they eat is scarcely
are saved for incubation. Their thick,
downy plumage is not despised as a
substitute for goose feathers. The
Muscovy on range is practically a self
feeder. minus the self-feeder's habit of
deStructiveneSs. II is not n Scavenger,
but feeds and thrives where other
fowls would subsiSt meaEerly Figu-
ratively. it is the pig of the poultry
yard. 1t grubs assiduously for worms
beetles and roots. Flies are special
dainties. Young Muscovies soon seize
INC opportunity presented by n sleeping
COW in hytime, and forthwith establish
themselves as fy-catcherS-in-w waiting
Little ducks fearlcssly circle calf
hopping up and down after hi.s. They
respond to supplementary feeding OF
meal. wheat, screenings, cracked corn
milifeed, bran, rolled oats, and so on
They can and do thriv. without grain
but must have range to some degree
Having no crop. this duck is "A con-
unuous feeder and requires much
roughage.
Muscovy Manuerisms.
Familiarity with Muscovy nature re-
Veals traits decidedly anomalous TO
duck disposition. The warty knots at
the base Of the brakes bill, his huge
unwieldlE'%ize and numbering gait con
fer upon him q belicose air The duck
is gcntlcr. tniid, but responsive 10 adj
vances when accompanied win brihcs
OF corn, TIL she has established her
friendship. Neither has a quack worth
mentioning Fences are favori,e
perch. and there is tale OF a duck
that nested in tree. When scared
young and thin Muscovies take pro-
lonred flights. They must he handled
with care else they may do damage
with their long. curved toe-nails their
chief method OF defense
The duck nests in dark corners. un-
cretcs ~ with turkeys cunning and
EhareS the Euinea's -evulsion 10 hav-
ing II disturbed Collecting her eggs
upsets her arrangements and she
promptly seeks new nest She lines
IL win down and proceeds to settle
herself for I'VE weeks incubation
whenever she leaves it, she covers
inc eggs with downy blanket, no
matter how hot the weather
The Muscovy originally from n warn
climate, cndurcs the riEors of zorro
weather II given reasonable protection.
nature controls the production Of eggs
SO mat ducklincs rarely appear bc.
1ore settled weather. While her sen.
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