The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-11-13

Pure-bred breeding pens, consisting of
females and one male, cost more than
the average dealer can afford for general
distribution. However it will pay him to
furnish a few farmers in each locality
with such flocks on the condition that
the stocks shall be kept pure and the
eggs laid during the breeding season shah
be available for wide distribution at APP
proximately market prices. If the dealer
furnishes the farmer with one or more
settings from a pure-bred flock, with
the understanding that the chickens are
to be raised in increasing numbers from
this pure-bred stock, att he end of three
years the flock should consist entirely OF
pure-bred fowls. Such an improvement
in the quality of his flock enables the
farmer to obtain higher prices for his
poultry because of it's larger size or in
creased egg production. The dealer prof
it's by the greater amount and better
quality of poultry and eggs he handles.
The poultry shippers association is
fertile source of better egg and poultry
marketing. Such organizations create
confidence among the shippers, give each
man a broader view of his own business,
and tend to increase his profits by aiding
in the prevention of his losses. Through
such organizations experts may be en-
ployed to aid the farmer in solving his
poultry-raising problems and give greater
publicity to the poultry end of the indus
try. This tends to create realiza-
ton on the part of the farmer that poul-
Try is more than mere side line on the
farm, and to increase his output, thereby
aiding the consumer to secure larger
quantity and better quality of nutritious
food on the basis of the prices he pays.
According to the census of 1910 there
were 2,906, SOS ducks in the United states,
valued at 1867, 1914 showing a decrease in
number of nearly 40 per cent as compared
with 1900 1t should be stated, however
that the animal census of 1900 was taken
June 1, and that of 1910 April 15 which
fact would considerably reduce the above
percentage, although only fowls months
cid or over were reported in both cases,
Ducks were reported on only 10 per cent
of the farms in the country and are most
numerous in the following states, ar
ranged according to their production:
Iowa. Illinois, New York, PENNSYLVANIA,
Missouri, Tennessee, Indiana, Kansas
Oklahoma, Arkansas and Ohio, the
number ranging from about 225,000 head
in Iowa to 100000 in Ohio. New York
is the only one of these states which
shows an increase in the number OF ducks
while all the others show a marked de-
c1ines. Long Island, N. Y, contains
number of large commercial duck farms
which apparently are quite SUCCESSFUL. II
would appear, therefore, that CONNER
cial duck farms are increasing somewhat,
while the production of ducks on gem
erai farms as side issue is decreasing,
especially in the middle west.
There are II standard breeds or ducks
which have teen admitted to the Amer
lean standard of perfection. These may
be divided into three classes: % the meat
class. including the PelSin, Aylesbury.
Muscovy. Rouep, Cayuga. Buff ana
Swedish. (2) the egg class, which includes
the Indian Runner, and G) the ornamen-
tai class, composed of the Call, the Crest
ed White and the Black East India. Inc
common or so-called puddle duck is
kent on many farms in the middle west
and south and is generally of small size,
a moor LAYER and an undesirable type OF
market duck. Excepting the MuscoVy'
all of our economic breeds OF ducks are
said to have originated from the Mailaru
or common wild duck.
If the chickens must be confined on
account of bad weather, provide a gooo
straw litter in which their grain feed
NAV he scattered This will give them
exercise and keep them interested ana
healthy. When chickens that have peen
accustomed to free range are closely con-
fined. this frequently checks their de-
yelonment for the time being unless they
are made contented in their new quar-
ters.