The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1919-02-07
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 Been Used Success
fully-Pekln 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 APP
pear to be easily adapted as 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 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
~ from the large cities. AS matter
OF fact. many farmers market their
ducks In the fall at lower price
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-
caily nonsetters, and while not espe- |
cIally well adapted for the production |
Of flesh, are listed In the heavy breeds |
pr 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 a side
issue on general farm or by the
town poultry keeper.
Feeding DucIiines-
Ducks may be fed on the rations
recommended for chickens. but better
results are usually secured by feeding |
more green and vegetable feeds and
larger proportion OF mash. Ducklings
DO not need feed until they are from
twenty-four to thirty-six hours old. H
After this they should be fed for ths
8rst week five times day; after that. il
TOUR times day until they are two or
'hree weeks old. and thereafter three
lines daily until they are marketed.
The first ration should consist OF
mixture which contains equal parts By
measure Of rolled oats and bread
'rumhs, with 3 per cent Of sharp sand
mixed in the feed. When about three
lays old, this feed Is changed to equal
arts OF bread. rolled oats. bran. and
ornmeal. After the first week the IA
ioa should be changed again to three
arts OF bran. enc pert each Of low /
1ade wheat -four AID cornmeal. 10 /
- cent Of green feed and 8 per cent /
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