The Pulaskian. (Pulaski Heights [Little Rock], Ark.) 1915-1929, 1919-02-14
MAKE SUCCESS
RAISING DUCKS
Market Demands Should Be
Studied Before Making Large
Investments in Fowls.
LESS SUBJECT TO DISEASE
Artificial Methods of Patching and
Rearing Have Been Used Success
fuIly-Pekin Breed Is Hardy
and Good Layers.


Ducks can be raised with success
and at profit on general farms or by
town poultry keepers, but do not ap-
pear to be easily adapted as a source
of income to average farm conditions
as chickens, although they serve to
add variety both of meat and eggs
for the table. The demands for
ducks eggs are more limited than for
hens eggs, and the demand for table
duck at good prices is, to a great ex-
tent, confined to the large cities, and
is not nearly as general as the demand
for chickens. For this reason poultry
specialists of the United States de-
partment Of agriculture advise that
prospective duck raisers study the
market conditions before making
large investment in ducks.
Intensive duck farming on a large
scale, the specialists say, has been
more successful than intensive chicken
raising. The Pekin ducks, which are
kept extensively by commercial grow
ers, are less subject to disease than
chickens, and artificial methods of
Matching and rearing have been used
very successfully by them. These
facts, together with the care in feed
ing and the study of market condi-
lions, have been responsible for the
success of many commercial duck
raisers. Farmers have rarely given
the necessary attention to these latter
points to secure large share of the
trade in fancy "green" ducks.
Growing Green Ducks.
A green duck is duckling which
has grown rapidly and marketed when
from eight to twelve weeks old, weigh
ing at that time from four and one
half to six pounds. This rapid growth
Is made possible by an abundance OF
care and good feeding. The highest
prices for ducks are usually paid early
In the spring, but the demand is chief
ly from the large cities. As a matter
Of fact, many farmers market their
ducks in the fall at lower price a
bird than green ducks bring in the
spring.
The Pekin breed of ducks is kept
almost exclusively by producers of
green ducks. The Pekins are hardy,
make fairly good layers, are practi-
cally nonsetters, and while not espe-
cially well adapted for the production
of flesh, are listed in the heavy breeds
of ducks. The standard weights Of
adult drake and duck are nine and
eight pounds each, respectively. They
are easily confined by low fences, and
are good breed to raise as side
issue on general farm or by the
town poultry keeper.
Feeding Ducklings.
Ducks may be fed on the rations
recommended for chickens, but better
results are usually secured by feeding
more green and vegetable feeds and a
larger proportion of mash. Ducklings
do not need feed until they are from
twenty-four to thirty-slx hours old.
After this they should be fed for the
first week five times day; after that,
four times day until they are two or
three weeks old. and thereafter three
times daily until they are marketed.
The first ration should consist of q
mixture which contains equal parts by
measure of rolled oats and bread
crumbs, with 8 per cent Of sharp sand
mixed in the feed. When about three
days old, this feed is changed to equal
parts of bread, rolled oats. bran, and
cornmeal. After the first week the rg-
ton should be changed again to three
parts of bran, one part each of low
grade wheat flour and cornmeal, 10
per cent Of green feed and 5 per cent
Of beef scrap. with about per cent
Of sand or grit The amount of beef