The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1919-02-27
Make SUCCESS
RAISING DUCKS
Market Demands Should Be
Studied Before Making Large
Investments in Fowls.
LESS SUBJECT TO DISEASE
Artificial Methods OF Matching and
Rearing Have Eesn Used Success
fulIy-Pe<in 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 cx-
tent, confined % the large cities, and
is not nearly as general as the demand
for chickens. For this reason poultry
specialists Of the United States de-
pariment of agriculture advise that
prospective duck ruiscrs study the
market conditions before making a
large investment In ducks.
Intensive duck faCming on large
scale, the specialists say, has been
more successful than intensive chicken
raising. The peGin ducks, which are
kept extensively by commercial grow
ers, are less Suhject 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 IF market condi-
tons have hrcu responsible for The
success of maay commercial duck
raisers. Far,1ers 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 a ducklng which
has grown rapidly AMI 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 matter
Of fact, many farmers market their
ducks in the fall at lower price a
bird than green ducks bring in the
spring.
The Pekn breed Of ducks Is kept
almost exclusively by producers of
green ducks. The ?ekins are hardy,
make fairly good layers, are practf-
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
nGu1t drake upH I,tpL, nil
eight pounds each, respectively. They
are easily confined by low fences, and
are good breed 70 raise as side
issue on general farm or by the
town poultry keeper.
Feeding Oucklings.
Ducks may be fed on the rationS
recommended for chickens, but better
results are usually secured by feeding
more green aud vegetable feeds and Il
larger proportion Of mash. Ducklings
do not need feed until they are from
twenty-four to thirty-six hours old.
After this they should be fed for the
first week five times a day; after that,
four times a day until they are two or
three weeks Old. and thereafter three
times daily until they are marketed
The first ration should consist OF a
mixture which contains equal parts by
measure Of rolled oats and bread
crumbs, with 3 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 ra-
ton should be changed again to three
parts Of bran, one part each of low
grade wheat Hour and cornmeal, 10
per cent Of green feed and per cent
Of beef scrap. with about per cent
VI sand or grit. The amount of beef