The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1919-02-05
DUCK FEEDING AND REARING

ana at profit on general farms or
by town poultry keepers, but do not
appear to be easily adapted as
source Of income to average farm con-
ditions as chickens, although they
serve to add variety both Of meat and
of 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 extent, confined to the large
cities, and is not nearly as general
as the demand for chickens. For this
reason poultry specialists of the Unit
ed States Department Of Agriculture
advise that prospective duck raisers
study the market conditions before
making a 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-
tions, have been responsible for the
success of many commercial duck
iolSSlS. FARMERS nave rarely given
the necessary attention to these lat
ter! points to secure a large share of
the trade in fancy green" ducks.
Growing Green Ducks.
A green duck is a duckling which
has grown rapidly and marketed when
from 8 to II weeks old, weighing at
that time from Az to 6 pounds. This
rapid growth is made possible by an
abundance of care and good feeding.
The highest prices for ducks are usu-
ally paid early in the spring, but the
demand is chiefly from the large
cities. AS a matter Of fact, many
farmers market their ducks in the
fall at lower price bird than
green ducks bring in the spring.
almost exclusively by producers of
green ducks. This breed is hardy,
makes fairly good layers, are practi-
cally nonsetters, and are not espec-
tally we'll adapted for the production
of flesh. 1t is one OF the heavy
breeds of ducks. The standard weights
of adult drake and duck are 9 and
8 pounds each respectively. They
are easily confined by low fences, and
are good breed to raise as a side
issue on a general form or by the
town poultry keeper.
Feeding Duclllings.
Ducks may be fed on the rations
recommended for chickens, but bet
ter results are usually secured by
feeding more green and vegetable
feeds and a larger proportion of
mash. Ducklings do not feed until
they are from "a to sc hours old.
After this they should be fed for the
first week five times day; after that,
four times day until they are 2 or
3 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 per cent of sharp sand
mixed in feed. When about days
old, this feed is changed to equal
parts of bread, rolled oats, bran, and
corn meal. After the first week the
ration should be changed again to
three parts of bran, one part each of
low-grade wheat -four and corn meal,
10 per cent of green feed, and 5 per
cent of beef scrap, with about per
cent of sand or grit. The amount
until it reaches Is per cent by the end
of the third week. The proportion of
corn meal is increased for the duck
lings to be marketed and the bran de-
creased as the time for marketing
the ducklings approaches.
The fattening ration, which should
be used for two weeks before killing,
consists of 8 parts, by weight, of corn
meal. parts of low-grade flour or
middlings, 1 part of bran, E part of
beef scrap, 10 per cent green feed, and
8 per cent grit. This mash is fed
three times daily. The green feed is
sometimes left out of the ration dur
ing the last week Of fattening as it
tends to color the meat, but it is
easier to keep the ducklings in good
feeding condition if it is included
Boiled fish is sometimes used in place
of the beef scrap, but this should be
discontinued two weeks before the
ducklings are killed, in order not to
impart a fshy taste. Where milk is
the rations recommended for milk
fattencd chickens would produce a
well-b -bleached milk-fed gr duck.
Celery seed is also used, as this is
said to flavor the flesh.
Indian Runners: The Egg Breed.
For the general farmer who is
more interested in obtaining eggs
than in producing green ducks for the
market, the Indian Runner is a good
breed. This duck holds the same re-
lative position in the duck family that
tho Leghorn does in the chicken fam
lily. 1t laws a good-sized white egg,
considerably larger than a hens egg,
and is declared to be small eater,
a good forager, and hardy.
At the present time the keeping of
ducks for eggs is an industry which