The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-11
MORE DUCKS AND GEESE
WANTED.
NJ Il. 1. HARRINGTON.

mercial duck farms, but even in the
yards Of amateurs and small breeders.
A few years ago hocks of Indian Run
ner ducks were to be seen everywhere,
but this season It Is difficult in many
places even to get setting OF eggs.
At the same time the demand for
ducks, and especially for Indian Run
ners, is increasing along with that of
all kinds Of poultry, and 1t would seem
as though there is going to be an I'M
usually good market during the next
few years for breeding stock as well
as for eggs and table birds. Ducks
have the reputation Of being rather
heavy eaters, and so were among the
first Of the farm focks to be disposed
of when the price Of grain became
high. After all, though, the soft ra-
lions given to ducks cost less than the
hard grain for hens and there is no
reason why a few ducks should not be
kept probably by amateurs every
where.
Some Of the commercial duck grow
ers have maintained their focks even
during the period OF high pressure and
seem to have made money. In the
next few years they are likely to be
in clover.
What has been said about ducks ap-
plies in a limited way to geese, which
are hard to obtain this season. In the
famous Little Compton section of
Rhode Island. where thousands Of
geese were formerly raised every year,
the raucous cry Of hardly a single
bird il to be heard now. The business
has gone by the board. Yet there was
good demand for geese last Christ
mas, and there is every reason to be-
lleve that this demand will be greater
when the next holiday season comes.
Accordingly those who reembark in
the business of growing geese have a
bright prospect OF course geese are
not adapted to suburban back yards
or any smaIl places. They Craze like
cattle, and therefore need pasturage.
The ideal place for them is a marsh
or meadow, and often they will bring
a>good profit from land which other
wise would prove of little value.
Geese are hardy and very easy to
raise. They cost but little to keep
when there is pasturage, and the
toughest kind Of shelter will serve for
them. There are many farms on
which geese might be raised with
profit
Ducks may be kept in smaller quar-.
tiers, although very small yards are not
suitable. as they quickly become filthy.
1t Is not necessary TO have water for
ducks to swim in, although a small
stream or little pond Is of advantage
at breeding time and will result in the
production OF moro fertile eggs.
While Indian Runner ducks do not
yield as much meat as the White
Pekin, which is the common market
duck, yet the flesh IL very tender and
sweet. THE ducks are heavy layers,
often Smelling out as many eggs az n
good hen. The best strains lay only
pure white eggs, and II they have n
comfortable. dry house, they will begin
laying early in the season. Up to
Easter time duck eggs bring higher
price than hen eggs in the market. In
past years most OF the eggs sold in the
public markets just before Easter have
come from the big duck Matching es-
adjustments, and have been tested out
OF the incubators. The fact that they
have been incubated for seven or eight
days does not injure them for cooking.
provided. OF course. that they are in
fertile eggs, but people who want eggs
for the table prefer those which are
fresher. In some places, specially
where there is an English population.
It is not difficult to work up a good
trade in duck eggs
White Pekin ducks are raised by the
commercial growers because of the
rapid way In which they put on flesh
They are expected to be ready for
killing when ten weeks old. and should
weigh five or six pounds at that age.
II is necessary TO stun them to accom-
plish this result and the birds are ex-
tremely fat. They are much inferior
in quality to those which are raised on
the home plant and allowed TO develop
more gradually.
One breed Of ducks which is
found to a considerable extent in diff
ferent parts OF the country is the Mus
covy. from South America. These
ducks are wholly different from any
other kind. For one thing, the eggs
require five weeks instead OF four for
Matching. Then tho ducks are quack-
less. which is a point decidedly IN
their favor IL they are kept in limited
quarters. They make a kind of hiss
ing sound, but not loud enough to dis
turb anybody. They differ from most
other ducks, too, in the fact that the
male is several pounds heavier than
the female. Furthermore. they can
fiNt "a OF