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diff --git a/38467.txt b/38467.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..44b54a6 --- /dev/null +++ b/38467.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4952 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Natural and Artificial Duck Culture, by James Rankin + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Natural and Artificial Duck Culture + +Author: James Rankin + +Release Date: January 2, 2012 [EBook #38467] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL DUCK *** + + + + +Produced by David Edwards, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + + + + + NATURAL + + AND + + ARTIFICIAL + + DUCK CULTURE + + JAMES RANKIN + + + _Price 50 Cents._ + + FIFTH EDITION, REVISED AND ENLARGED + + SOUTH EASTON, MASS. + 1906 + + Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1906, by + JAMES RANKIN, + In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C. + + ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. + + DESIGNED AND COMPILED BY + H. A. SUMMERS + BOSTON, MASS. + + + + +[Illustration: BIRDS-EYE VIEW MAPLEWOOD FARM. JAMES RANKIN, +PROPRIETOR.] + + + + +INTRODUCTION. + + +Our original motive in publishing this little book, was one of +self-defense, to relieve ourselves, in a measure, of a correspondence +which was becoming much too large for the time at our disposal. After +reading from fifty to one hundred letters per day, from people, asking +all manner of questions concerning the hatching, growing and marketing +of ducks, in detail, there were not hours enough in the twenty-four to +answer them. This book was published to send out with our machines to +meet these queries and give our patrons our method of growing, supposing +it would cover all the points in duck-culture, but it does not as yet +answer the ends. The questions still come in far beyond our ability to +answer, and as our fourth edition is about exhausted, we now publish a +fifth, revised, enlarged and illustrated; also adding a Question Bureau, +which will answer many of the questions which have reached us during the +past few years concerning the growing, as well as the diseases to which +the Pekin duck is subject. Though we have been in this business for +nearly forty years, and have been eminently successful, we do not claim +to know all about it; but by persistent effort, careful selection and +breeding, have succeeded in developing a mammoth strain of Pekin ducks, +which, for symmetry, precocity and fecundity (experts who have visited +our place from all parts of the country tell us), stand unrivalled on +this continent. + +Many of our customers write us that their birds average from 150 to 165 +eggs per season. We would say that there is no domestic bird under so +perfect control, so free from diseases of all kinds, or from insect +parasites as the Pekin duck. From the time the little bird is hatched +until it is full grown and ready to reproduce its own species, it is +under the perfect control of the intelligent operator, who can produce +feathers, flesh or bone at will, and even mature the bird and compel it +to lay at four-and-a-half months old. There is no bird in existence that +will respond to kind treatment, generous care and feed as the Pekin +duck. On the other hand, there is no bird more susceptible to improper +feed or neglect, and a sad mortality is sure to follow among the little +ones, where proper food and system are wanting. It may surprise some one +to know that the predisposition to disease may exist in the egg from +which the little bird is hatched, or even in the condition of the parent +bird which produces the egg. Strong physique in animal life, as in man, +are like exotics, requiring the most assiduous care and cultivation, and +are the most difficult to transmit. + +Defects, like weeds, seem indigenous to the soil and will reproduce with +unerring regularity, and will often crop out in all directions, +generations after you think you have wiped it all out. So it is one +thing to produce an egg from good, strong, vigorous stock during the +winter in inclement weather, when all nature is against you, and so +poorly fertilized that if it hatches at all, will hatch a chick so +enfeebled in construction that no amount of petting or coaxing can +induce it to live, but quite another to produce an egg so highly +vitalized, that it will be sure to hatch a healthy young bird, bound to +live under all circumstances. But this is not all the danger. The +operator, though he may have good eggs, may be neglectful or ignorant, +and the health of the young birds seriously injured during the hours of +incubation; or he may have a defective machine which under no condition +can turn out healthy birds. With healthy, vigorous parent stock, +judicious care and food, there is no reason why good hatches of strong, +healthy young birds may not be obtained, and the same matured with very +little loss. + + + + +Natural and Artificial Duck Culture. + + +It is only within a few years that the public at large have become awake +to the importance of the poultry interests in the country. Formerly it +was supposed to be of insignificant proportions compared to the beef and +pork product. But recent statistics show that the poultry interests in +magnitude not only exceed either of the above, but are vastly on the +increase year by year. Yet, strange to say, the supply, enormous as it +is, does not keep pace with the demand. As a natural consequence, we are +obliged to import millions of dozens of eggs from Europe, and carloads +of poultry of all descriptions from Canada. (December 21, 1888, a train +of twenty refrigerator cars loaded with dressed poultry, aggregating 200 +tons, arrived in Boston from Canada,--$50,000 worth of dressed poultry +at one shipment.) Still the demand goes on. Our large cities, which form +the principal market for poultry and eggs, are growing larger every +year. The rich men who inhabit them are growing richer and more +numerous, and are always ready to pay the poulterer a good round price +for a first-class article. Good poultry has not only become an every day +necessity to the well-to-do classes, but is a common article of diet at +least six months of the year on the workingman's table. It is everywhere +recognized by physicians as the best and most palatable, as well as the +most wholesome and nutritious, of all our flesh diets. + + +Duck Culture an Important Industry. + +Duck culture now assumes a most important part in the poultry business, +and yet, until within a few years, people did not suppose that ducks +were fit to eat. But now the public appetite is fast becoming educated +to the fact that a nice, crispy, roasted duckling of ten weeks old is +not only a dish fit for an epicure, but is far ahead of either turkey, +chicken or goose. As a natural consequence, the demand for good ducks is +rapidly increasing. One of the principal poultry dealers in Boston +assured me that his sales of ducks had nearly doubled each season for +the past five years. Twenty years ago, when growing less than 1500 ducks +yearly, I was obliged to visit the city markets personally and tease the +dealers to purchase my birds in order to secure anything like +satisfactory prices. Now, with a ranch capacity of nearly 20,000 ducks +yearly, I cannot fill my orders. + + +Pond or Lake Not Necessary. + +The reason is very plain. Formerly people supposed that ducks could not +be successfully grown without access to either pond, stream or coast +line. As a natural consequence, a large share of the birds sold in the +markets were grown on or near the coasts, fed largely on fish, partially +fattened, and were anything but a tempting morsel. For years there have +been large establishments on the Long Island shores devoted to +duck-culture. Large seines and nets were used regularly to secure the +fish on which the young birds were fed and fattened. These birds grew to +a large size and attained a fine plumage, but, as might be surmised, +their flesh was coarse and fishy. Occasionally a person was found who +relished these birds, but the majority of people preferred to eat their +fish and flesh separately. Now this is all changed. + +Duck-culture of today is quite a different thing from the days of yore. +Then, the young birds were confided to the tender mercies of the old +hen. Now, the business is all done artificially. The artificially-grown, +scrap-fed duckling of the interior is a far different bird from his +fishy-fed brother of the coast. He has been educated to a complete +indifference to water except to satisfy his thirst. Taught to take on +flesh and fat instead of feathers, his body is widened out and rounded +off, and, when properly denuded of his feathers, is a thing of beauty. + + +Ducks In Great Demand for Food. + +This sudden popularity of the duck in our markets, the great demand for +them on the tables of our epicures, together with the immense profits +realized from growing them, has naturally created quite an interest +among poultry men; so much so that I am constantly flooded with letters +filled with inquiries as to which is the best variety to raise, which +are the best layers, if they can be hatched in incubators, what kind of +buildings are necessary, the amount of profit realized,--in short, +wishing me to give them the whole thing in detail, which, were one +willing, it would be completely out of one's power to do. As there seems +to be no work published in the country to meet this case and answer +these queries, in pure self-defense, and through earnest persuasion of +many friends, I shall, to the best of my ability, through this little +treatise, endeavor to answer them, together with many other points which +will naturally suggest themselves. + +I shall confine myself almost entirely to an exposition of the +artificial method, giving my own experience in the business for the last +thirty years in detail. In doing this, the most approved buildings will +be (both for brooding and breeding) described in full, together with +cuts of the egg in different stages of incubation, and the living and +dead germ compared, and how to distinguish each, plainly told. Just here +let me say that a great deal of skepticism prevails among people in +general and farmers in particular. They do not believe in the success of +artificial poultry growing, or, indeed, of growing it in large numbers +in any other way. As a proof of their assertions they will tell you that +more than three-fourths of the people who attempt the business on a +large scale make a complete failure of it. And it is the plain truth. +There are few communities in this country, large as it is, but that, at +some time in the past, has had a bogus incubator within its limits, or a +good one that has been badly managed. The unfortunate experience of +these men has spread for miles in all directions. There is but one +verdict. The man is never condemned. The system is so denounced that a +strong prejudice exists against all incubators, which it is difficult to +combat. Every town, too, has had its representative poultry man who has +erected extensive building's with a view to growing poultry on a large +scale in the natural way. He, too, has met with disaster. Failure has +attended his efforts, and the community is still more embittered against +the whole thing, and the emphatic "It can't be done," meets you on every +side. + +Now, there is a cause for all this. Where is it? In the men. They do not +comply with the conditions of success, and failure is the result. We +will endeavor to give some of the reasons why: Nearly three-fourths of +these people come from the city. Now, city people have unfortunately +imbibed the impression that the necessary amount of brains and executive +ability required to successfully run a mercantile, manufacturing or +broker's business in the city is largely in excess of that required to +run a successful poultry or agricultural ranch in the country. + + +Raising Poultry in the Country. + +Men who have impoverished themselves by repeated failures in the city +come out to retrieve their fortunes by raising poultry in the country. +They visit your place and see thousands of young ducklings of all sizes +and ages, each one vieing with the other as to which will consume the +most food. They are completely carried away with the sight. They +question you closely in regard to the profit derived from the business, +and then openly avow their intention of doing the same thing themselves. +You advise beginning small, and meekly suggest the possibility of +failure through inexperience. The incredulous smile that plays over +their features informs you that advice is wasted. "Why, haven't I read +up all the poultry journals and got the whole thing down fine?" + +Others, still, who, from close confinement at sedentary work in the +city, are anxious to engage in a business which promises equally to +restore their health as well as to provide them a livelihood. These +invalids come out with their exhausted energies and dilapidated +constitutions to engage in a business which, to insure success, requires +a minuteness of detail and intensity of application second to none. They +are unequal to the six or eight hours required of them on a revolving +stool in the counting-room in the city, but are equal to the fourteen +and sixteen hours indispensable to the poultry business in the country. +Is it strange that a large proportion of these men fail? + +Others, still, come to us wishing to engage in the business, at the same +time candidly acknowledging their complete ignorance and inexperience. +They frankly state their circumstances. They are poor, with families to +support, and are not afraid of work, throwing themselves, as it were, +upon one's mercy. They seek a good, healthy and fairly profitable +occupation in which they can cultivate the physique and morals of their +children away from the temptations of city life. Now you take kindly to +such men; readily forfeit any advantages which may accrue to yourself +through want of candor on your part, gauge their calibre, and to the +best of your ability measure their chances of success, and give them the +best advice you can, which advice usually is to begin small,--say with +one machine, buildings in proportion, and increase their plant as their +experience and judgment dictates. + + +Raise Ducks and Chicks. + +But the reader will say: "What has all this to do with duck-culture?" +Simply this: It is to give the would-be poultry enthusiast some idea of +what he has to contend with before he begins. To convince him that this +is no child's play--that the care of young ducks and chicks means early +hours and late. The closest confinement and application is required for +at least six months of the year, and if he is at all afraid of hard work +or of soiling his fingers, he had better stop where he is. The theory +that the poultry business furnishes a good occupation for little boys +and girls, superannuated old men and invalids, has long since exploded. +We advise people to secure a fair share of health before they begin and +then they will be sure to keep it. As an inducement to all, I would say +that there is nothing in the way of farm industry or any other +legitimate occupation which will at all compare with the profits +obtained from poultry when artificially conducted. There are, however, +a few notable exceptions in favor of watered railroad stock, bogus +mining shares, patent medicines, and the business done by our bank +cashiers when guaranteed a safe transit through to Canada. I would +advise all contemplating the poultry business to combine the growing of +ducks and chicks together, for the reason that more profit can be +realized from both than from either alone, because they do not +necessarily interfere with each other, and the same buildings and +machinery can be utilized for both. The brooding-house should be filled +with chicks in November and December, which they will have outgrown by +February, when the building will be required for ducklings. The +ducklings, strange to say, though two months younger, will be ready for +market as soon as the chicks (provided the latter are held for roasters, +as they should be) and they will both be in the market in time to +command the highest prices. This is what the poulterer should always +cater for, and machinery alone will enable him to do it. He who expects +to incubate with old hens during the winter will surely get left. But +more of this hereafter. + + +Select A Good Site. + +The first thing for one to do (if he is not already located), is to +select a good site. It should have a gradual slope to the east or south, +enough for natural drainage. No matter how poor the land, it will be +rich enough before your fowls get through with it. I need not say that +in those regions where snow lies upon the ground four or five months of +the year, the conditions are not as favorable for the poultry grower as +near the coast line, where snow, though a frequent visitor, remains but +a few weeks or days at a time. In the one case it means close +confinement to the fowls a great part of the winter, with want of +exercise and consequent want of action in the digestive organs. The food +is not assimilated, the fowls become debilitated, and though they may +give a fair share of eggs, these eggs can seldom be depended upon to +hatch. It is true, the active poulterer may overcome this in a measure +by clearing away the snow for ten or fifteen feet in front of his +buildings after each storm, and by a free use of barn chaff and chopped +straw induce his fowls to go out on sunny days, but all this increases +his work and makes the conditions against him. I simply mention these +facts, assuming that where a man has his choice of locations, these +hints may have their proper weight in the matter. + + +Advantages with Ducks. + +The same rule holds good in a measure with breeding ducks, though not in +so great a degree. For instance, your hen when closely confined seems to +lose her ambition, and spends a large part of her time on the perches, +apparently indifferent to all sublunary things. Not so your duck. She is +in constant motion, no matter how small her quarters. No meditation for +her. Indeed, the days seem too short for her to exercise in, and so she +keeps it up through a great part of the night. Her greatest ambition +seems to be to distribute the few quarts of water you have given her for +drink, evenly all over the pen you have just covered with dry, +finely-chopped straw, and make it as sloppy as possible, and it is +astonishing in how short a space of time she will succeed in doing it. +Again, snow and ice are the aversion of the hen. + +She cannot be induced to step in either except under pressure of +circumstances. Not so your duck. She likes nothing better than to be out +in a snow bank during a thaw, and if she can only work it up into the +color and consistency of mud it suits her exactly. She does not mind +the cold if she can only keep her feet warm. She is clothed with an +impenetrable coat of feathers and an equally thick coat of down. She +does not take kindly to confinement in a building and will utter her +constant protest, and like the average school boy of ten prefers to +suffer from the cold outside to being comfortable in. Therefore, the +main point in breeding early ducks and erecting buildings for the same, +next to supplying them with the right kind of food, is to keep their +feet warm. Cold feet affect the winter laying of the duck the same as a +frozen comb affects the hen. It stops the egg production at once. + + +Locate Near a Railroad. + +Your plant should be located on a line of railroad, in direct +communication with one or more of our great city markets, and not too +far from the station, as you will necessarily be in frequent and close +communication with that. + + +Arrange the Buildings. + +to secure good room in front, also good drainage, and especially with a +view to reducing the labor to a minimum, both inside and out. Always +remember that the labor is the most expensive part of the poultry +business. Now is the time for forethought and caution--save all the +steps, all the work you can. You will never suffer from want of +exercise, if your fowls do. I never knew a case of gout in a man in the +poultry business in my life. It is well, also, when arranging a poultry +plant, to make provision for future contingencies, so that should one in +the course of time and experience wish to increase his plant and the +size of his buildings longitudinally he will have plenty of room to do +it, by simply moving the end of his building out as far as he wishes +and filling in between. I have been obliged to do this several times in +the course of my experience, and have the past Fall built a double +brooding house 250 feet long by 16 feet wide. + +One important point in erecting poultry buildings is the difficulty in +building them, + + +Warm, Cheap, and Rat-proof. + +Formerly I built stone foundations on which were placed the buildings, +cementing the stone work to the sill carefully inside and out. This +proved in the end not only an expensive but a very unsatisfactory +arrangement, for cement it as one would the action of the frost would +always part the sill from the foundation and admit the cold air from all +around just where it should be kept warm. I have since hit upon a plan +which has not only met the case but is comparatively inexpensive. Place +posts, with one square side to them, about four feet apart, on which +place the 2x4 inch sill. Set these posts in the ground so that the tops +rise but one inch above the surface, with the flat side exactly +horizontal and perpendicular to the inside of the sill. Then sink a +hemlock board twelve or fourteen inches wide into the ground inside of +the building, and immediately in front of the two-inch sill, until the +upper edge is flush with the upper side of the sill, nailing it firmly +thereto, filling up inside nearly to a level of the top of the sill. +This gives a warm, cheap foundation on which the frost does not act. +Hemlock, too, seems to have an affinity for moisture and will last in +that condition from eight to ten years, when it can be easily renewed. +This arrangement is also comparatively rat-proof, as a hemlock board is +a rat's aversion. It does not agree with their teeth. They cannot +possibly dig under during the frozen months of the year, and as it +affords them no concealment they do not care to, during the warm season. + + +The Outside Plan of a Breeding and Brooding House + +with the exception of a little more glass in the latter, should be +precisely the same both for ducks and ducklings. The internal +arrangements can be made to suit. As I shall give a full description +with cuts of this building later, I will now merely give the manner in +which it should be arranged as a good breeding-house for ducks. This +building should be fifteen feet wide and any length required. It should +have an uneven double roof, five-foot posts in the rear and four foot in +front. About one-quarter of this front should be glass. There should be +a walk the entire length of the building three and one-half feet wide. +The main body of the building should be divided into pens twenty feet +long, by either lath or wire two feet high. + +The walk should be separated from the pens by laths three inches apart, +to allow the birds to feed and water from the walk. This method +simplifies the labor very much, as it enables the operator to load his +barrow, travel the whole length of a 200-foot building and feed and +water 500 ducks in a few minutes. This arrangement has many other +advantages besides, as it permits the birds to feed and water readily +from the walk without being able to waste either, or mix the contents of +food and water-dishes with filth. It also prevents the birds from +sopping the straw in the bottom of their pens, or of soiling their white +plumage, both of which they are bound to do if possible, and as the +duck, especially the Pekin, is a very timid bird, this plan familiarizes +her with the appearance of the attendant without bringing her into +actual contact with him. + + +Use Half the Pens for Feeding Purposes. + +One-half or ten feet of the twenty-foot pens should be utilized for +feeding purposes. The lower board of this slat partition should not be +more than three inches wide and should rest upon the ground so the birds +can readily feed over it. As this ten-foot partition is but two feet +high, the attendant can readily step over it to pick up a stray egg +occasionally. Six feet of this partition should be portable and secured +with a groove or button so it can be easily removed to allow the +entrance of a barrow in cleaning out the pens; this should be done when +the birds are out, never when they are in. + +The remaining ten feet of the pen should be used for nest boxes, which +can be fifteen inches square and one foot high. A board four inches wide +may be fastened in front to prevent the nest material from being drawn +out. This latter may be composed of finely cut hay or chaff. This must +be perfectly dry, as the duck while laying will work it all over and +cover her eggs carefully, which as they are pure white, become easily +soiled and stained; this will necessitate washing unless things are kept +dry and clean. This is a vital point with us, as it never did seem as if +a filthy egg would hatch as well as a clean one. I abominate a machine +filled with filthy eggs; it actually hurts my feelings to handle them. +These nests should be covered closely and the partition above them be +correspondingly high, as the birds will often mount upon the boxes. The +back of the nest boxes next the walk should be closed with a board +hinged below so that the attendant can let it down readily and secure +the eggs from the walk. + + +The Room for Mixing Feed. + +Some twelve feet of this breeding-house may be utilized as a cook and +mixing room, and must necessarily be a little higher posted than the +rest of the building,--say, two feet higher. This cookroom, with boiler, +is an essential thing in a duck-house. Unlike hens, they do not take +kindly to hard food and whole grain. Their digestive organs, in many +points, are different from the hens, and they do not assimilate hard +food readily. They require more vegetable food, and those vegetables +must be cooked,--but more about this hereafter. + +Of course, this building should be sweet and clean, and must be well +deodorized; for, though ducks do not generate vermin like other fowl, +and are not subject to as many diseases, or as readily affected by +thermal changes,--in fact, a good driving rainstorm is their +delight,--yet they will not thrive when confined in filthy quarters. It +engenders a morbid appetite, impairs digestion, and your bird is poor +before you know it. This, of course, arrests the egg production at once. + +I wish here to impress upon the breeder the absolute necessity of the +careful handling and feeding of his birds; and, when necessary, handle +very gently, always taking the bird by the neck. This is very essential, +because the bones of a well-bred, well-fatted duck seem wholly +disproportioned to the size and weight of his body, and we have often +seen a wing broken or a leg disjointed by the convulsive efforts of the +bird to escape when caught by those members through the carelessness of +the attendant. + +The timidity of the Pekin is proverbial. You should move quietly among +your layers if you would have them thrive, as constant agitation and +disquietude will surely debilitate them and reduce their flesh. I have +known a pair of heavy exhibition birds to lose a pound per day during +their confinement the first four days of exhibition, and to be eight +pounds lighter than they were ten days before when started for the show. +Their recuperative powers are equally wonderful. I have often seen +Pekin ducks, after having produced one hundred eggs in nearly as many +days, on evincing a desire to sit, and being somewhat reduced in flesh, +when shut up in a yard with drakes and well fed, in less than a week +commence her regular contribution of an egg per day. + + +Water Not Needed. + +The majority of people have the impression that water to bathe in is +essential to secure fertility in duck eggs, but it is a great mistake. +My ducks never see water, the year round, except to drink. They are +confined in yards 24x100 feet, some forty in each yard, twenty-four feet +being the size of the pens inside of the breeding house. They are +confined in these yards for nine months, or till August 1, when they are +removed in order that the land may be disinfected. This is done by +plowing and growing a crop of barley or rye, when the land is ready for +the ducks again. + + +Free Range Unnecessary. + +I am constantly experimenting to see if there are defects in my system. +A few years ago I had thirty breeding-yards devoted to ducks. I wished +to ascertain the difference in egg production and percentage of +fertility between ducks yarded close and those with free range, the feed +and other conditions being the same. One lot of fifty ducks were allowed +the range of a five-acre lot, in addition to their own yard. They ranged +in common with our cows, there being plenty of grass. Another lot of +seventy-five were allowed the range of the whole premises, with the same +feed and care as the eight yards confined. The latter were liberally +supplied with all the green and vegetable food needed. The egg +production and the fertility of each were carefully noted. I was much +surprised to find that the difference was very little, and that in favor +of the birds confined. + + +The Mode of Feeding. + +differs with the season of the year. During the autumn and early winter +months feed twice each day about equal quantities of corn-meal, +wheat-bran, and boiled turnips and potatoes, with about ten per cent. of +ground beef scrap thrown in. At noon, give a small amount of dry food, +composed of equal quantities of cracked corn, oats, and wheat. When the +birds commence laying, as they will about January 1st, gradually +increase the quantity of meal and animal food, proportionally decreasing +the amount of bran. + + +The Pekin Duck. + +is my favorite. I have experimented carefully during the last thirty +years with all the larger breeds, crossing them in every conceivable way +to obtain the best results, and am perfectly satisfied with the Pekins. +I am now through experimenting, and as I grow nearly 20,000 ducklings +yearly, can hardly afford to guess at it, as one cent per bird makes a +difference of over $200. in my receipts,--one cent per pound, a +difference of over $1200. It is readily seen that I can only afford to +use the bird that will grow the greatest number of pounds of flesh in +the shortest space of time. Nor is this all. It must be the bird that +will give you the first eggs of the season, as this will enable you to +get your birds on the market when they will command the highest price, +as there is more clear profit from one early bird than from three later +ones. This will be the more readily understood when it is known that the +maximum price paid for early birds is thirty cents per pound in Boston +and New York, the minimum price for late ones eighteen cents, the cost +of production being the same for both. + +[Illustration: PEKIN DUCKS.] + + +The Pekin Combines the Best Points. + +The Pekin is the only bird that will cover all these points. It has two +slight defects,--its extreme timidity and its heavy, coarse voice, which +it does not scruple to use when congregated in large numbers. The former +can be easily overcome by careful handling. But to off-set these defects +the Pekin will not only produce the first eggs of the season, but by far +the greatest number of any of the breeds, with one exception, the Indian +Runner. They mature earlier, are more hardy and domestic in their +habits, never wandering far, and always returning to the coops at night. +They are not mischievous, and require less water than either of the +other breeds. + +My birds have for generations been bred in dry yards, with simply water +to drink, and all desire for it for other purposes seems to have been +bred out of them. When allowed their freedom in the fall, the flocks +never visit the brook, fifteen or twenty rods distant, and when driven +there occasionally for the purpose of purifying their feathers, get out +again just as soon as possible. Indeed, after a water bath their +feathers cling to their bodies, and they present the same bedraggled +appearance that the old hen did many years ago after one had immersed +her in a water-barrel to cure her propensity for sitting. + +A wealthy New Yorker ordered a dozen of my best ducks, a year or two +ago. In a few weeks he wrote that he wished to return them, as they did +not answer his purpose; "for," said he, "I have an artificial lake on my +lawn, near my piazza, and I wanted these ducks to disport in the water +for the pleasure of my wife and children, and they will not go in the +water at all unless I drive them in with a whip, and I have to stand +guard over them all the time, as they get out the moment my back is +turned." I wrote him in return that had I known he wanted the ducks for +their aquatic performances, I should have recommended the common puddle +duck, when he would have had as much trouble to get them out of the +water as he had to get the Pekins in. + + +Feathers are Pure White. + +Another advantage of the Pekin over the other breeds is their pure +white, elastic feathers which are largely mixed with down. These +feathers readily command from forty to fifty cents per pound, and as the +reader can see, are no mean source of income, especially when the birds +are grown in large numbers. These birds, as their name indicates, +originated in China. They are large, beautiful birds, of a proud, erect +carriage, with pure white plumage outside. The inside feathers are +slightly cream colored. The neck is long and gracefully curved; the head +long and finely shaped, with a full bright eye. The legs and beak are of +a very dark orange, and form a fine contrast to the pure white +feathers. The minimum weight of our birds when matured is about fourteen +pounds per pair, while the very heaviest will tip the scales at +twenty-two pounds. My first experience with ducks commenced more than +forty years ago. We used the common puddle ducks and grew them for the +city market. The ducks were very small and so were the profits. They +were fed but little and allowed full range, consequently the home ties +were not strong. + +Those ducks followed the little brook in the pasture through swamps and +marshes for half a mile in either direction, wholly regardless of farm +limits. If we expected any eggs from those ducks they should have been +safely housed at night. This task devolved upon the boys. Now our +paternal head, though a kind and indulgent parent (unfortunately for +us), had the impression that boys were made to work, and work we did. +Now, what boy of ten or twelve years had not rather chase ducks through +the mud in the swamp than to wield the hoe among the weeds in the corn +field? It was our recreation, our chief solace and delight through those +long, hot summer days--the anticipation of that duck hunt in the +evening. I think our extraordinary love for the duck hailed from this +date. Later on we used a cross between a Rouen and Cayuga. This cross +made a much larger and better market bird. The flesh was better +flavored. They produced more eggs and began earlier in the spring, +consequently prices and profits slightly improved. + +These birds did not stray as far, but were as fond of mud and water as +their little predecessors. It was a pleasing and comical sight to see +three or four hundred of these ducklings of all ages, when first let out +in the morning, run down the hill in their eager haste to reach the +swamp, a part of them right side up, then rolling over and over on their +broadsides; others still reversing themselves end for end down the +steep incline, apparently a matter of supreme indifference how, so long +as they reached the mud first. + +These ducklings always returned at night with their numbers more or less +depleted, as they were the legitimate prey of skunks, minks, weasels and +mud turtles; and if we reached the summer's end with sixty per cent. of +the original number we were well satisfied. All this has been changed. +We have learned a number of points on duck culture since then. First, +that all losses by vermin can be easily avoided by yarding your little +birds at home and keeping them under your own eye. Second, that mud and +water externally applied are not essential to their growth and +well-being, and that in fact they will thrive better without. + + +Ready for Market 3 Months Earlier. + +Third, that it is not necessary to keep your birds till they are six +months old in the fall and then put them on the market when it is sure +to be glutted, but much better to market them at ten weeks, when they +are nearly as heavy, and you are sure to get more than double the price, +as well as save three or four months extra feed. There are many other +points connected with this thing which the novice must ponder carefully +before he begins, as a slight mistake in the beginning often means a +great loss in the end. As pioneers in the business we have for many +years been carefully experimenting with the different breeds, different +treatment and variety of food. We have met with many failures, suffered +some loss, but with a gradual improvement through it all, which has been +very encouraging to us, and though we do not claim perfection, yet we +are now reaping a rich harvest compared to which our former losses are +simply insignificant. It is a source of gratification to know that +success has at last crowned our efforts. + +When we look back forty years--when year after year chronicled failure +and our best efforts met with loss--when we were the butt, ridicule, and +laughing stock of the whole community; when we were assured again and +again that we were fighting against nature and never could succeed, and +repeated failures only seemed to confirm that assertion,--and compare it +with the present, when we can grow our birds by the thousands, regulate +the growth, control the mortality, and grow flesh or feathers at will; +have shortened the precocity, increased fecundity, and even educated the +birds to an aversion for water, which was formerly their home; we have +completely reversed the order of things and taught our birds to +reproduce at a season of the year when all nature is against them, we +can safely feel the victory is won. We hope that our readers will not +only benefit by the experience we shall present, but that many of them +will be able to take this and carry it on where, according to the +natural course of things, we shall be obliged to leave it. We are no +longer young, the infirmities and decrepitude of age are slowly creeping +upon us and admonish us that our days of research are nearly over, and +we find that our life is all too short. But there is a satisfaction in +knowing that others will take this thing up where we leave off and carry +it on to the end. + + +The Superiority of Artificial Poultry Growing. + +We predict a great future for artificial poultry growing. It is yet in +its infancy. The time will come when it will gradually supersede many of +the regular farm crops on the sterile soil of New England, when every +farmer will have his proper complement of poultry appliances, and when +you can prove to the average farmer that the capital necessary to run a +poultry plant (which will with less labor ensure him a greater income +than that from his whole farm) is less than one-fourth of that required +for any other farm investment. You will begin to see him scratch his +head to evolve ideas. The beginner in starting, should recollect that +this is a business of detail and that small things must be taken into +account. It is not only a very essential thing to choose the best +breeding stock that can be had, but, all other conditions being the +same, to select the color of their feathers. + +We have always had a predilection in favor of white birds, for the +feathers (which are no small item in ducks) command nearly double the +price of colored ones, and are always more saleable. Again, we must +cater for the market with young birds, and every one knows that young +birds are more or less addicted to pinfeathers, many of which it is very +difficult to remove, as they have secured a lodgment just under the +skin, but have not found their way through. Now a dark pinfeather is a +blot upon the fair surface of a fine chicken or duck, and the thrifty +housewife in selecting her dinner will always leave the pins behind. She +does not like a variety of colors in her duckling, if she does in her +dress. The dealer, aware of this peculiarity of the ladies (who, by the +way, form a large share of his customers) will, if he buys at all, cut +you on the price. + +Unfortunately we started in with dark birds, but it did not matter at +that time, as the Pekin had not been imported, and there were very few +Aylesburys in the country. We were surrounded by vermin of all kinds. +Our young birds disappeared mysteriously, and in such large numbers that +we were nearly discouraged. Hawks do not trouble ducks, but rats, +weasels and minks developed such a fondness for them as to completely +atone for any neglect on their part. We made a free use of steel traps, +guns, and phosphoretic poison. The battle raged for two years; at the +end of that time I think it would be difficult to find one of the +above-mentioned vermin one-fourth of a mile from the place. It was a +great relief; our ducklings could range at will, even be left out during +the night, and still the full complement appear at the dough-troughs in +the morning. + + +Do Not Have Neighbors Too Near. + +Another source of discomfort was our neighbors' cats. Now, we are +eminently social in our disposition, and enjoy our neighbors' company +very much. We like to spend a social evening with them and have them do +the same by us. But not so their cats. We never interchanged civilities +with them, their visits were too ill timed and frequent. Our ducklings +were carried off in large numbers, and in pure self-defense we shot the +cats. + +Of course, this made trouble in our neighbors' families, especially the +female portion, by whom it was promptly resented. The principle of +"touch my dog, touch me," was illustrated here in all its force. No +amount of provocation ever justified us in their eyes in killing their +cats. With pater familias it was different. His affections were not +engaged. He recognized the necessity of the thing, laughed it off, and +said it was all right. Now, cats breed fast and are very prolific, and +our neighbors were plenty, and we are unwilling to state the amount of +our losses from those sources, for fear our veracity would be doubted. +We endured this sort of annoyance for some twelve years, but made up our +minds that if we ever selected another poultry ranch we would locate our +neighbors at a distance. We have done so, and now have no trouble from +this source. + +We found that the Cayuga duck was a more precocious bird than the Rouen, +and were better layers. The eggs were more fertile. They were also much +hardier, and, as a consequence, there was less mortality among the +young. But they were rather small in size, dressing only seven to nine +pounds per pair. The Rouens were nearly four pounds heavier, but had +their disadvantages. They were not so productive in eggs, and those did +not give us the same percentage of hatch, while the mortality among the +little ones was much greater. We do not like to condemn any variety of +birds on one trial, as we may be unfortunate in our selection of a +strain, but our subsequent experience with these birds fully confirms +the above; and though they are a large, attractive bird, we do not +consider them as hardy as either Pekin, Aylesbury or Cayuga. + +[Illustration: CAYUGA DUCKS.] + +We conceived the plan of crossing this bird with the Cayuga, with a view +of increasing the size, not knowing whether the good or the negative +qualities of the two birds would prevail. We were very much pleased with +the results of this cross, as it gave us all the good qualities of the +Cayuga with the largely increased size of the Rouen. It gave us also a +good table bird, the flesh of which was far better flavored than that of +the puddle duck. We made the duck business then supplementary to that of +growing chickens. Our chicks were hatched out early in the winter in +order to secure the high prices. Our ducks during the spring and summer +were not marketed until fall. We did not expect those ducks to lay till +the first of April, and they did not disappoint us. If anyone had told +us that young ducks could be made to lay at four or five months old, and +that we could have our young broods out by the thousands at that time, +we should have called him insane. We then gave our ducklings free range, +and, as a consequence, lost large numbers of them from eating injurious +insects, which, in their haste, they did not stop to kill, and paid the +penalty with their lives. + +[Illustration: ROUEN DUCKS.] + +Now, the genuine duckling is proverbially stupid. He has an immense +faculty for getting himself into trouble, without the first idea as to +how he shall get out. As, for instance, we had taken up some old +fence-posts one day, and carelessly left the holes (some two feet deep) +unfilled. When feeding time came at night we missed many of our little +ducklings, and, at the same time, heard a great squeaking, which we +could not locate. We finally traced it to the post-holes, which we found +nearly full of young ducklings, not much the worse for the adventure. +When we look back at the difficulties with which we had to contend, and +the losses we sustained in consequence, I often wonder that we were not +discouraged. It was blunder after blunder, repeated always with the same +results. We had very little idea of the systematic care and regular food +required to ensure against loss and enable the young birds to attain a +weight in a few weeks which we supposed required almost as many months. +We still had the impression that water was essential to the welfare of +the birds, both old and young, and that eggs would not be fertile unless +copulation took place in the water. So we built a tank for use during +the dry season of the year (which held about a hogshead), and cemented +it thoroughly. + +This tank we laboriously filled with water for the birds to sport in, +but it did not work, as it soon became so offensive that we were obliged +to renew it at least every three days, so that we soon became tired of +it, and once more allowed the ducks the liberty of the swamp. We never +obtained more than half of the number of eggs that we now get from our +Pekins. About this time the Aylesbury duck came under our notice, and we +procured a number of them at once, as they came highly recommended, but +they did not meet our expectations. They were a very pretty bird to look +at, and their feathers were more valuable, but there the advantage +ended, for the strain we obtained was a trifle smaller than the mongrels +we had been breeding,--rather more delicate to rear, and, worse than +all, we found it almost impossible to pick them. In all our experience +before or since we have never seen anything to equal those birds. The +tenacity of those feathers was exasperating. Every one was bound to +retain its complement of flesh. Of course the birds were so disfigured +that the most of them were retained for family use. It was no use to +think of scalding them,--that would not only seriously injure the +feathers, but would completely spoil the birds for Boston market, as +scalded birds are rejected at once and classed with cheap Western fowls. + +While going the rounds of Boston market one pleasant June day, shortly +after our experience with the Aylesburys, we noticed some fine young +birds nicely dressed, that had evidently snow-white plumage. As this was +before the advent of iced poultry, we supposed the birds had come from +the regions of the far South, and our curiosity was excited. We +interviewed the dealer and was surprised to learn that the birds were +grown to the north of us, and that they were the Pekin ducks we had +heard of for a year or two, but had taken no stock in. Yet here they +were in the market, while ours were toddling about at home less than +half grown. Here was a revelation. We procured some eggs of this party, +at once, and in due time hatched out sixty lively young ducklings. They +were tended with the utmost care and not one was lost. We were very much +interested in these little fellows, they were so hardy, and you could +fairly see them grow. It occurred to me at this time to try and +experiment with these ducklings, keep a correct account of all food +consumed by them, and ascertain what they cost per pound when ready for +market. The average weight was taken from the rejected drakes which we +did not need for breeding purposes, and which were culled out and sent +to market at ten weeks old. We were very much surprised to find the +cost to us (exclusive of the cost of eggs) was about 4-3/4 cents per +pound. We could hardly credit our own eyes. The calculation was made +again and again with the same result. The same calculation was made a +year later on two yards of some three hundred ducklings with a result +obtained, when ready for market, of 5-1/4 cents per pound, including +cost of eggs. + +[Illustration: AYLESBURY DUCKS.] + +As I had long since left the paternal abode, and for years had ceased to +superintend the establishments of others, and as the following +experience will be entirely my own, I shall hereafter use the personal +"I". It is needless to say that the figures arrived at from the +calculations made of those ducks were startling. What! can I grow ducks +in three months as cheaply as I can grow pork in a year, or beef in two +years, and then get six times as much per pound for it after it is +grown? Yes, if figures tell the truth. Can I afford longer to grow large +crops of fruit and vegetables, working early and late, risking frosts +and drouths, making a bare livelihood, when with one-tenth part of the +labor and capital involved I can grow a crop which drouths and frosts do +not injure, and make five times as much? No! I have not had a hog on my +farm since I kept a Kemp's spreader to work over the manure, and simply +grow fruit and vegetables enough for feathered thieves and home +consumption. Another question arose: "What shall I do with my cows?" +some sixteen or eighteen in number, bull, young stock, etc. + + +My Farm. + +Now, I had become somewhat proud of my farm, as what man does not who +had quadrupled its increase within ten years? I was cutting yearly some +two hundred tons of hay on less than half that number of acres, and I +knew that if I sold my cows I should, in some way, be obliged to get rid +of my hay and that would mean disaster to the farm. There might be no +decrease in acres, but there would be a sad diminution in the tons of +hay. The result is, I keep cows for my own use. Have built two new +barns, each one hundred feet long, the basements of which are utilized +for box stalls, accommodating sixty boarding horses. These convert my +hay and grain (for which I receive the market price) into manure. This +is all I expect and all I get. + +A while ago a gentleman from New York caught me hoeing in my onion +patch. He expressed his astonishment at the size of the onions. (I now +grow two or three hundred bushels yearly to supply my own and neighbors' +wants, and just to keep my hand in.) Said he: "Your land seems well +adapted to this crop." "Yes, I have some twenty or thirty acres that are +level, the soil is easily worked and friable, not troubled much with +maggot, and, if properly handled, is about sure of a crop." "Why don't +you put it all into onions?" "I cannot afford to." "Why," said he, "if +our New York farmers had that land within twenty or thirty miles of New +York city it would be worth $1,000 an acre, and they would make it pay +twenty-five per cent. of that, too, every year." "Possibly they could, +but with one-tenth of the labor and capital employed I can raise ducks +enough on one acre to buy all the onions I can raise on ten. If I am +going to increase my capital and labor in any direction I should put it +into ducks, not onions." He acknowledged that perhaps I was right, but +at the same time thought it was poor economy to grow nothing but hay on +such land as that. + + +The Muscovy Duck. + +The Muscovy duck as its name implies is a denizen of the Mediterranean +and is a beautiful bird, quiet and inoffensive in its habits, but cannot +compare with the Pekin either in fecundity or in market value. It cannot +be induced to lay so early in the season as the Pekin, thus forfeiting +the high Spring prices. The eggs require about the same time to incubate +as the goose egg (five weeks) and they do not hatch well in an +incubator. It is some three weeks longer in maturing than the Pekin and +does not command as high a price in the market by two cents per pound. I +asked a prominent Boston market man yesterday the reason for it. He said +that the flesh was coarser than that of the Pekin while the disparity in +the size of the sexes made them very unpopular, for instance, while the +drake will dress from eight to ten pounds the duck will rate but four or +five pounds. Said he, "I want none of them." There are two varieties of +this bird, white and colored. + + +The Indian Runner Duck. + +This bird is of recent introduction, and while it can never be a +first-class market bird on account of its small size and dark pins, it +has many good points. Its fecundity is wonderful. There is, perhaps, no +bird that will excel it as an egg producer for market. Its patrons are +enthusiastic in its praise and claim an average yield of one hundred and +seventy-five to two hundred eggs per year from each of their birds, but +their small size, four to four and a half pounds, together with their +dark pins, militates against their value as a market bird. I have always +emphasized the point that size as well as fecundity is a necessary +adjunct to a profitable market bird. It is no more trouble or risk to +grow a large bird than a small one, while the market returns are often +double. The large bird will always command at least two or three cents +per pound more than a small one, as well as a more ready sale. The +Runner is a parti-colored bird. + +I was very much pleased with the Pekin ducks. They not only layed some +weeks earlier than any other breed I had ever kept, but were precocious, +maturing earlier than either of the other breeds, excepting the Cayugas, +there being but little difference between the latter and the Pekins, but +the Pekins laying some weeks sooner, it gave us control of the early +spring markets, which are by far the most profitable of the year. + + +Disinfecting. + +My neighbors had become much interested in the business and often +visited me, and were not backward in giving their opinions. They +predicted failure for me, giving as reasons that the market would soon +be glutted with so much of that kind of stuff, for poultry never could +be as good grown in that unnatural way, and that if I kept on growing +those ducks in the same yard, year after year, the land would eventually +get poisoned, and then disease would clean me out. + +But I had thought this thing all over before laying out my yards. I knew +that reversing land and cropping it would disinfect it, so a crop of +ducks is always followed by a crop of something else; and thus I succeed +each season in getting two crops of ducks and two crops of either rye, +barley, or oats, so that the land has not been poisoned, and is still +growing its complement of large, fat ducks every year, and as I have set +it to plum trees, it is beginning to yield fine, luscious plums. Neither +is the market glutted, as the demand is far in excess of the supply. The +way of growing does not seem to be any objection, as the marketmen are +willing to pay me, at least, two to four cents per pound more than they +can possibly get for those grown in the natural way. + +Perhaps a word here would not be amiss regarding the merits of +artificially and naturally-grown poultry for fancy and market purposes. +This is a vital question, and it is as well for the public to fully +understand this thing now, as well as its origin. There is many a person +who has been thoroughly convinced of the great advantages and the +economy of the artificial over the natural way of doing it, and who +would gladly have started in the business, but was deterred by the +prevailing opinion that artificially-grown birds were always deficient +in plumage, and could never win at a show, and that the flesh was +inferior for table use and could not find a ready sale. It is as well to +explode this thing now, and expose its utter fallacy. There is not a +shadow of doubt but that much poor poultry has been put upon the market +by people who have attempted its culture in the artificial way by +growing hundreds of ducks and chicks in the same limited space that they +formerly used for a dozen with an old hen. + +These, of course, could not be otherwise than poor and the mortality +great. Another reason: the fancy business in poultry is fast being +overdone. The best breeds are now scattered far and wide over the entire +country. There is not the demand for them that there has been, because +good birds can be obtained nearer home. Many of our old and well-known +fanciers are making frantic but vain efforts to keep their business up +to its former standard. They have suffered considerably from competition +with artificially-grown birds, and they roundly assert that it is an +unnatural method, that the conditions are not right, that it affects the +growth and plumage of the bird in such a manner as to preclude its ever +taking a first-class premium at our shows. + +Now if they can convince the public that naturally grown birds can +capture premiums, and they grow all their birds in the natural way, it +is easy to see how their trade would be increased. + +Now, I never could see how the old hen could impart vigor to her chicks +by imparting lice, or how the increased contributions of filth from the +old hen, united to that from the chicks, could ever make the conditions +more favorable than that from the chicks alone. It can no longer be +denied that the artificially-grown fowls are fast coming to the +front,--a place which they already occupy in the market. Knapp Bros., +Fabius, N. Y., the greatest prize winners on White Leghorns in the +country, grow their birds artificially. We could mention many others who +are doing equally well. Our own Pekin ducks have, for many generations, +been hatched and grown artificially, and today, for size, symmetry, and +beauty of plumage they stand unrivaled in North America. They have won +first from Canada to the Gulf, and have never been defeated. Three times +during the past ten years we have been obliged to enlarge market boxes +to accommodate the increased size of our birds; and yet we have bred +only from our own stock. A number of times I have procured winning birds +at the Pennsylvania and Western State Fairs, with a view to a change of +blood, only to cast the birds aside on their arrival here, as I could +not breed from them without deteriorating my flock in size. If this is +the result of artificial growing and of in-breeding, I shall keep right +on. + + +In-Breeding. + +I have always selected the very choicest and best from the many I raised +for breeding stock, and the result has been a gradual increase of size. +I have seen many persons who, from a mistaken idea of introducing new +blood, have reduced both the size and quality of their stock. Let it be +here understood that a man who keeps but one drake and a few ducks is +breeding-in fast. But the one who keeps a thousand in different yards +can breed many years with impunity, because the intermingling of blood +is exactly in inverse ratio to the numbers kept. I have repeatedly +heard prominent marketmen in New York and Boston say that my +artificially-grown poultry, both in chicks and ducks, were the best that +they ever handled.... I will endeavor to secure their signatures to that +effect, as convincing proof of this, as I wish the public to know the +truth as it is. + +I was then breeding Pekins exclusively, and found the business while +growing them was far more profitable than ever before, and accordingly +increased my incubating and brooding capacity, and instead of growing +1,500 to 2,000 ducklings, grew from 10,000 to 20,000. This was done +during the early spring and summer, the machines and brooders being used +for early chicks during the winter. I had observed that, during my +experience with chicks, that crossing with the best breeds always made +better layers and better market birds than either of the breeds from +which they originated; also, that the first cross was always the best, +and that continued breeding from crosses is sure to deteriorate both in +size and quality. + + +Crossing. + +I conceived the idea of procuring some of the best stock possible of +Rouens, Aylesburys, Cayugas, and crossing them on the Pekins, with the +object of increasing the size and precocity. I experimented first with +Cayugas, and crossed both ways, using both Pekin and Cayuga drakes, and, +in order to test the experiment fairly, the mongrel eggs were hatched in +the same machine, the young birds grown in the same yards, subjected to +the same care and feed, with the Pekins. The Cayuga cross was very +satisfactory, with two exceptions. They were fine, plump birds, took on +fat readily, and matured as early as the Pekins, while the mortality was +not more than one per cent. on either, but we found that the skin was +dark, the dark pins, when there were any, showing very plainly beneath. + +These birds were sent to market in the same boxes with the Pekins. Our +dealers to whom we shipped allowed us the same price for them as for the +Pekins, as there were but few of them, but had they all been of that +color would have been obliged to cut them two cents per pound on the +price. This was enough for me, especially as I found that the feathers +commanded but little more than half the price of the pure white feathers +of the Pekins. + +The experiment, though conducted in the same manner, with the Rouens, +was somewhat different in result. There was a great loss from those +mongrels. They evidently inherited the same weak constitutions of the +Rouens. They had not the vitality of the Pekins, while they required at +least three weeks longer to mature. This latter alone was sufficient to +condemn them for all market purposes, especially when subjected to the +same discount on dark pins and feathers as the Cayugas. This was +sufficient to discard both breeds for my use as market birds. + + +Aylesburys. + +But I expected great things from the Aylesburys. I procured the best +ducks to be had in the country, while I used imported drakes from the +best prize-winners in England, and I have never yet seen those drakes +equaled in size; and I was unusually careful in this experiment, because +I knew that the English breeders claimed for their birds a superiority +in all the points essential for a good market bird, namely, delicacy and +flavor of flesh, size, precocity, and greater egg production,--laying +special stress on their hardiness and vitality. I bred those birds clear +and crossed them, carefully noting the result. Our first batch of Pekins +and those crosses numbered about 300, nearly equally divided. These were +mixed and confined in two yards. For the first two weeks there was no +perceptible difference, when gradually the young Pekins began to outgrow +the crosses, the difference increasing with age. The former were very +even in size, the latter irregular, while the mortality was as six to +one in favor of the Pekins. When we began to kill those birds the Pekins +were all in the market at the end of eleven weeks, while the crosses +remained in the yards fully one week behind. The weight was in favor of +the Pekins about one pound per pair. + +The same difficulty existed as in former years--the tenacity of the +feathers. The pickers grumbled, while the birds were more or less +disfigured. I notified the dealers of the breeds of those ducks, and of +the claim made by the English breeders, and wished them to ascertain if +possible if there was any difference in favor of the Aylesburys. They +said their customers found no preference, for themselves they preferred +the Pekins on account of the larger size and finer appearance of the +dressed birds. But I found it made a vast deal more difference than that +to me. One pound per pair on 2,000 pairs of ducklings, at an average +price of twenty-five cents per pound, made a difference of more than +$500 to me; especially the extra ten days required to mature the +Aylesburys cost more than the feed for extra pound of flesh grown upon +the Pekins. I do not keep Aylesburys now, and have not since that +experiment; I never shall again. + + +Precocity. + +There is one point which I wish to impress, which is too often +overlooked, and yet is of the most vital importance to the poultry +grower, and that is the early maturity of his market birds. I often hear +growers say that as there is very little change in the poultry market +during nine months of the year, and as they do not contend for the early +spring prices anyway, if their birds are three or four weeks longer in +maturing it does not matter. Does is not? I have always contended that +it requires just so much to sustain life in either bird or animal, and +the profit consists in what we can get them to consume and digest over +and above that; and if the time required to do this is protracted longer +than is necessary, it is done at the expense of the grower. + +If it takes ten weeks to grow five pounds of flesh on one bird and +fourteen weeks on another the one must necessarily cost more than the +other per pound, simply because you have to sustain life four weeks +longer in one case than in the other, and that cannot be done for +nothing. That is why, though I can easily grow a pound of duck for six +cents, I must have eight cents to grow a pound of chicken, because the +ducks will take on six pounds of flesh in ten weeks, while the chicken +requires twenty weeks to obtain the same size. These appear trivial +matters when a person grows only a few dozen fowls yearly, but when he +makes a life business of it and grows fowls by the thousands, it is of +the utmost importance. + + +First-Class Breeding Stock. + +The above shows the necessity of first-class breeding stock to start +with. I do not mean fancy stock at all, as many of the points of +excellence claimed by the American standard militate directly against +the market value of the birds. A few years ago several men came here to +buy Pekin ducks for breeding stock. On looking at the birds and getting +the price, one man said: "Those are the best birds I ever saw. I want +thirty of the best birds you have." Another said: "They are fine birds, +but I cannot afford to pay two dollars for a duck; have you no cheaper +birds?" "Yes, I have some later birds--culls from which the rest have +been selected. They are not as large as these. My late birds never +attain the size of the earlier-hatched ones, and they will not lay quite +as early. You can have your choice of these at one dollar each, which is +about their market value." + +He took those birds, and I consider when he made that choice that he +threw away more than $100 of his first season's work alone, for, with a +fair share of success he might easily expect to raise 100 young birds +from each of his breeding ducks, and as the birds he chose were at least +one-third lighter than those he rejected, their progeny would not be as +heavy at a marketable age by at least one pound per bird. The excess in +cost to him, had he bought the better birds, would have been but one +cent on each of the young birds he raised. He lost, on making the choice +he did, more than twenty cents on each bird, and this is not all; those +birds will be small for generations to come. He never can get them up to +the standard of the others. They will go upon the market as small birds, +and as such, command at least two cents per pound less than the larger +ones; in fact, his losses in this transaction will represent a large +share of the profits. + + +How to Begin. + +I will now suppose that the breeder has secured his stock, erected his +building, and is ready for business. The next thing is to feed them +well, keep them warm and comfortable, giving them as great a variety of +green food as is obtainable during the winter months, in order to induce +winter laying and insure fertility of the eggs. This matter requires +close attention, because the profits in one week of the early market +will always equal the profits in four or five of the late. The +proportion of the sexes in the early spring should be about one drake to +five or six ducks. + +One point here I wish to emphasize particularly and that is in the +selection of drakes. The drakes should be, at least, two months older +than the ducks, as the latter will mature some two or three months +earlier and begin their egg production two or three months before the +drakes are ready for breeding. As a consequence, we always select our +February hatched drakes for breeding purposes. + +This comes a little hard, as these birds will average to dress seven to +nine pounds at ten weeks old and will always bring, at least, 30c per +pound at that time in the market, making them worth about $2.50 each. +Would-be purchasers think we are crazy when we charge $3 each for these +birds at eight months old, expecting us to keep them for six months and +coop them for less than fifty cents. + +Now this selection of early hatched birds is absolutely necessary for +good profits, as early hatched, means early reproduction and these great +profits can hardly be ignored. We sold thousands of birds the past +spring for 30c per pound, having almost complete control of Boston and +New York markets for at least six weeks. + +Later in the season, when many of the ducks are off duty from a desire +to incubate, the proportion should be about one drake to ten ducks. Be +particular about this, as the eggs will be much more fertile if a part +of the drakes are removed. The feeding boxes should be long and roomy; +mine are 6x7 feet long, eight inches wide and three inches high. This is +essential, as the birds are rapid eaters, and if there is not room, some +will gorge themselves to repletion, while others will get but little. Do +not keep food by them, as that will clog their appetites, and always +effects the egg production, as well as the condition of the birds. + + +Keep the Feed Clean. + +I have often visited poultry establishments where the food was lying +around in all conditions,--in troughs, on the ground, trodden upon, +mixed with excrement and filth; had become sour and offensive, so that +the birds would not eat it. The attendant would go his rounds +periodically and throw more food upon the already offensive mass; the +owner looking on, passively complaining that his ducks did not lay and +his ducklings would not fat. + +I require my men to go the rounds after feeding, and if there is any +food left, to take it up clean. If this is insisted on they will soon +learn to feed just what is required and no more. Clean feeding is of the +utmost importance, both for young and old birds, as neither will thrive +from overfeeding, as it destroys the appetite completely. Another +essential thing is that ducks will not produce their proper quota of +fertile eggs on hard food alone. + +The natural food of the duck is principally vegetable and animal, and is +obtained in brooks, puddles, swales, and consists of flag, grass roots, +small fish, pollywogs, etc. Unlike the hen, the duck has no crop,--the +passage or duct leading from the throat to gizzard direct, is very small +compared to the size of the bird. Consequently it does not assimilate or +thrive on hard food. I am continually receiving letters from amateurs +during the months of March and April, complaining that their ducks do +not lay, at the same time saying that they give them all the corn they +will eat. I write back suggesting soft food, giving ingredients and +proportions. In an incredibly short space of time a postal will come to +hand saying, "Thanks, my ducks are all laying." Success or failure in +the poultry business often date their origin from just such trivial +things as the above. So insignificant in themselves as to be entirely +overlooked by the novice who, if he is persevering, will eventually +discover both cause and remedy; but only through years of costly +experiment and a loss of valuable time which he can never recall. + + +How to Feed Breeding Ducks for Eggs. + +There should be quite a distinction between feeding ducks to obtain a +supply of eggs and feeding them for market, as in one case the object +is to lay on fat and the other is to furnish the most available supply +of egg material. As before hinted, soft food is much more readily +utilized in a duck's organization than a hen's. We make a habit of +turning out our breeding ducks to pasture during the moulting season, +housing them in the fall according to the nature of the season, say, +from the middle of November to the first of December. We feed soft food +morning and evening composed largely of bran with a little meal, keeping +them purposely short to induce them to forage for themselves, but when +the birds are housed this is all changed. + +They are then fed on equal parts of corn meal, wheat-bran and low-grade +flour, with about twelve or fifteen per cent. of animal food. One fourth +of this food should be composed of vegetables cooked--say, small +potatoes, turnips, etc., with all the green rye and refuse cabbage they +will eat. We feed this compound morning and evening with a little corn, +wheat and oats at noon. Feed all the birds will eat clean and no more. +The birds, young and old, may be expected to lay in three weeks from the +time they are housed. This part of the thing seems to be under perfect +control. You turn in the proper variety of food and they cannot help +turning out a generous supply of eggs. + +The fertility however, cannot, at this season of the year be so +perfectly controlled, as the standard of fertility in the first eggs is +apt to be very low, but soon comes to a high point. The fecundity of +these birds is wonderful. As a general thing each bird can be depended +upon for 140 eggs each season, and as the eggs always command from 5 to +10 cents per dozen more than those from hens it makes the Pekin ducks +more profitable for eggs alone than any other fowl. + + +Incubators. + +With the necessary buildings constructed and the stock selected, the +next thing required is the incubator, for I do not suppose the modern +poultry grower is going to do his incubating with hens, for the simple +reason that he cannot afford to. Hens show no desire to incubate when +you want them to the most, or in time to command the high prices for +ducks and chicks in the early spring, and this is attended with a loss +of at least one-half of the season's profits. + +I often have letters filled with questions concerning incubators. Which +is the best incubator? Can a person of ordinary intelligence run one +successfully? Do they require watching during the night? Is there an +incubator in the market today that will hatch as well as the average +hen? and many more of like import. To the first I would say that modesty +forbids a candid answer. There are objections to many machines, though +the same do not apply to all. It does not become me to mention their +failings. But first of all do not buy a cheap incubator, as the +conditions to which the material of an incubator is exposed are of the +severest kind. It must be exposed constantly to a temperature of 103 +degrees, and that in an atmosphere surcharged with moisture; and unless +the material of which the machine is constructed is of the choicest +kind, well kiln-dried and put together, the chances are that it will +warp out of shape, admit drafts of air and injure, if not destroy, the +regulation. + +I do not think an incubator can ever be complete unless it is a +double-cased machine. It requires that to effectually resist thermal +changes. Years of careful experiment, and of experience in the +competitive show room have convinced me of the truth of this. Extreme +cold will affect the uniformity of heat in the egg-chamber of +single-cased machines. Imagine if you can a single-cased machine +constructed of five-eighth inch stuff, with a temperature of 103 degrees +inside, and that of freezing outside. How can the eggs at the extreme +corners and the thin cold sides of that machine be as warm as those in +the centre? Of course that difference does not exist in warm weather, +but that is the time when incubators are usually let alone and the +business is given up to the old hen. Now, I say this frankly, as much +for the benefit of incubator manufacturers as for their customers. I +have letters every day from parties ordering circulars and saying that +they have used from one to three machines of different makes, denouncing +the machines and their makers in the most emphatic terms as frauds. Now, +this is all wrong; one-half of the time you will find that it is the +purchasers, not the makers, who are at fault. There are probably just as +many honest incubator makers as there are in any other branch of +business. But there is such a thing as a man being honest and yet +ignorant. + +Many of the manufacturers of incubators know very little about the first +principles of artificial incubation. They have the idea that a simple +heat regulator is all that is necessary to insure the success of an +incubator, when in reality it is only one of the many requirements. I +will enumerate some of the most essential points, viz.: heat regulation; +uniformity of heat in egg-chamber; absolute control of heat by the +operator on any given egg-tray; automatic moisture supply; accurate +thermometers; thorough construction and good material to avoid warping +and shrinkage, together with a safe lamp adjustment. + +There are many other minor points which will come up with care of +machines. I am often asked, "Why do so many fail to hatch with +incubators?" I will answer by saying: "Not because it is difficult; for +I have always found it a far more difficult thing to grow ducks and +chicks successfully after they are hatched, than it is to hatch them." +Doubtless everyone knows that an incubator, different from other +machines, must run three weeks continually night and day, (and when +filled with duck eggs, four weeks,) and preserve an even temperature all +the while. + +Some machines as described above, are not adapted to this business, and +some men are not adapted to the use of machines even when they are good +ones. They are not willing to bestow the little but intelligent and +regular care required, and many times during the four weeks they will +forget some of the most essential points, such as replenishing their +lamps, or forget to attach the extinguishers, thus depriving the machine +of all self-control, or they neglect to trim the lamps for days, and +perhaps a week, allowing the wick to crust and the heat to decrease. +Others of nervous temperament will open their machines every fifteen +minutes during the day and get up many times during the night to do the +same thing, necessarily creating a great variation in the temperature of +the machine. Now, all these, when repeated often enough, mean disaster +and grief. One man who had been very successful, said he liked the +hatching very well, but there was too much confinement growing chicks +and ducks, and he was not going to make a slave of himself any longer. + +Another very young man who has been uniformly successful, and is running +four large machines, said that the hatching and care of incubators was +nothing, as he simply looked at his machines twice per day, but that the +care of chicks and ducks was hard work; but there was more money in it +than anything else he could do, and he should stick to it. Another man, +because his machine did not run to suit him, threw his boot at it, +knocking the regulation all off, which he called upon me to duplicate. +(This man has done better since and increased the number of his +machines). So the reader will see that there are cranks even among the +poultry men, and that many of them enter the poultry business simply +because they are looking for an easy job,--a sad mistake on their part. +I have always noticed that the man who knows the least, but is willing +to acquire knowledge and follow instructions implicitly, is the man who +generally succeeds. + + +Best Place for Incubators. + +Having secured a good machine, the next thing is to locate it where it +will give you the least trouble to run it, and at the same time do you +the most good. The best place for this is either in a barn or house +cellar or in some building partly under ground, for obvious reasons. +Though a good machine can be regulated to run in any temperature +(provided it can generate heat enough), yet constant thermal changes of +30 or 40 degrees between night and day will necessitate regulating to +meet them,--as the amount of flame required to run a machine in a +temperature of 40 degrees, will be far in excess of that needed to run +it in one of 70 degrees, for, though the change will be very slow in a +nicely packed double cased machine, yet in time even that change will +affect. + +This, of course, could be easily overcome with a little care, yet it is +just as well to avoid all unnecessary care and trouble in the beginning; +there will be still enough left to keep you thinking. In a common +building above ground during the winter months it will often freeze +around your machine, and in turning eggs in a freezing atmosphere do it +as quickly as you can, as it will always cool your eggs perceptibly, +and more or less derange the temperature of your machine. This is of +course decidedly injurious and will more or less impair the hatch. Now, +this is a very important matter, and people do not give it sufficient +consideration. + +It is even advocated by some incubator manufacturers, that eggs should +be cooled every day to 70 degrees, for the simple reason that the old +hen does. They do not take into consideration that it is a necessity for +the old hen, but may not be for the embryo chick. When the hen leaves +her eggs to feed, and they become partially cold, when she recovers them +and brings those eggs in immediate contact with the rapidly-pulsating +arteries of her body, in fifteen minutes they have acquired their normal +heat. With the machine it will require an hour or two. + +To meet this difficulty, suitable instructions should be given with and +to suit different machines. Where the eggs are turned automatically +inside the machine, it is necessary that they should be cooled at least +once a day during the last two weeks of the hatch. Taking the eggs out +to turn twice each day, as in the Monarch, cools them sufficiently +during the winter months; in warm weather, leaving the outside and +inside doors open while turning cools them sufficiently. + +Some incubator manufacturers will tell you that thermal changes, however +great, will not affect their machines. Their patrons tell a different +story. No machine was ever made, or ever will be, that will run as well +or give as good results amid constant thermal changes as in an even +temperature. It is true that they reduce the heat, but it is by +admitting large draughts of air, running off the moisture and completely +destroying the humidity of atmosphere in their machines. Then, how about +those little ducklings which have been pipped forty-eight hours? They +can never get out unless you help them. + + +Suitable Buildings. + +Many insurance companies object to incubators being run in buildings +covered by their policies, and will often cancel them. This originated +from the fact that so many fire-traps, which were thrust upon the public +in the shape of incubators, had consumed the buildings in which they +were operated. The insurance companies were obliged in self-defence to +prohibit their use in insured buildings. But the interdiction is usually +removed upon the representation that the machine is safe. Sometimes a +slight premium is exacted. In the event of insurance companies being +obdurate, it is very easy to excavate a place in a side hill, or on +level ground. Stone it up five feet high at the sides. It is not +necessary to dig more than two or three feet deep, as the excavated dirt +can be used to bank up with on the outside. Upon this stone-work put a +simple roof. I use a building of this description. The original cost, +exclusive of labor, was $15. It was large enough for two machines. My +new incubator room is ten times as large, but the cost was in +proportion. + +This building never freezes in winter, and is always some ten or fifteen +degrees colder than the outside temperature in summer, making a very +handy place to keep eggs for incubating purposes. It is well to run your +machine a few days and get the control of it. The next thing is to fill +it with fresh fertile eggs. In the winter time, if one does not have +eggs himself, this is sometimes a very difficult thing to do, for the +eggs must not only be fresh, but fertile. The young beginner is often +obliged to depend upon others for his eggs when first starting in the +business, but the poulterer, as a rule, cannot afford to do this, +because he can grow them a good deal cheaper than he can buy; and not +only this, and what is more to the point, he, by proper care and feed +during the winter months, can make his own eggs a great deal more +fertile than any he can buy of others. Usually about one-third of our +novices go right to the stores and purchase eggs to fill their machines +with. + +[Illustration: OUR INCUBATOR HOUSE.] + +This is running a great risk, especially during the winter months, but +will give the reader an idea of the amount of knowledge that many of our +would-be poultry men have acquired to begin with, and when he knows that +the incubator has to shoulder all these mistakes, he will naturally have +a little sympathy for the maker. Several years ago I sold a six +hundred-egg machine to a lady, who, on receiving it, filled it promptly +with eggs obtained from the grocers. Now, as this was in the month of +December, it was, to say the least, an exceedingly doubtful operation. +As she only got about forty chicks she was naturally very much +dissatisfied, and strongly denounced both the machine and the maker. Her +husband suggested that possibly the machine was not to blame, and that +the eggs might have something to do with it. They went to the grocer to +enquire about it. He told them that he had had some of those eggs on +hand for several weeks, and that they had been exposed to the cold and +freezing weather, and that probably the farmers from whom he had +obtained them had held them for high prices. + +They found on enquiry that this was the case, and one party especially, +who kept a large number of hens, and from whom he had collected the +largest share of his eggs, kept no "crowers" with his hens. This threw +some light on the subject, and stock on that incubator went up at once. +The next time she had parties save their eggs for her, taking them in +several times each day. She then obtained a hatch of ninety per cent, +and was uniformly successful afterwards, getting out some 3,000 chicks +and ducks during the season with her machine. + + +How to Keep Eggs for Incubation. + +The above is only one case out of many that are constantly taking place. +In nine cases out of ten, failure with good machines may be traced +directly to the operator or the eggs. Occasionally there is a defect in +a machine overlooked by the maker, which he is in honor bound to make +good. + +The best way to secure good eggs is to engage them beforehand from +reliable parties, who will gather them carefully several times each day +in cold weather to prevent them chilling, and turn them at least every +other day. If these eggs are kept on end it is not necessary to turn +them as often. + +I have egg boxes for the purpose, in which the eggs are set on end, like +the common market box. These boxes and contents can be turned as readily +with a dozen as when full. Eggs intended for incubation should always be +kept in a cool place,--duck eggs especially,--as the fertile eggs will +change at a temperature of eighty-five to ninety degrees, and spoil +within three or four days. One may safely calculate on one-half of them +being spoiled in a week at a temperature of 80 degrees. All kinds of +eggs can be safely kept three weeks for purposes of incubation, say, at +forty-five to fifty degrees, though I always like to have them as fresh +as possible. + +In filling orders for eggs at a distance I make it a point never to send +eggs more than four days old, or with less than seventy-five per cent of +fertility. Transportation, even over rough roads, does not affect their +hatching, except in extreme warm weather, when the contents, becoming +thin and slightly evaporated through the heat, are apt to mix, when they +will surely cloud and rot. I have often sent eggs 2,000 miles, with the +report that every egg produced a duckling. With machine ready and +running steadily the eggs may be introduced at once. They need no +moisture now, and it is not necessary to disturb them for the first +forty-eight hours. + + +How to Choose and Use Thermometers. + +Place your thermometer on the eggs in middle of egg-tray. Be sure, in +the first place, that you get a good glass, as all depends upon its +accuracy. Do not use one with the mercury bulb lying upon a solid metal +plate, as the refraction of heat upon the plate from the tank above will +always run that glass one or two degrees higher than the heat in the +egg-chamber, but get one, if possible, with a hole in the plate opposite +the bulb, so that the heat can play around the bulb and through the +plate, giving the correct heat of eggs and chamber. Do not hang your +glass up over the eggs, or put it down between the eggs, but lay it on +them, for the reason that, though either of these positions may be all +right during the first twelve days of the hatch (if your eggs are +fertile), they will surely be all wrong during the last part. + +I will endeavor to explain this thing, so that the novice will +understand how important it is. Before circulation begins in the embryo +chick or duck, and there is no animal heat in the egg, the temperature +of the egg chamber regulates that of the eggs. But after circulation +begins, and especially during the latter part of the hatch, when the +rapidly-developing young bird throws out a great deal of heat, the thing +is often completely reversed. For instance, a glass may be hung one inch +above the eggs and another placed immediately on the eggs beneath. The +one above may register 102 degrees; the one below, on the eggs, will +register 105 degrees,--conclusively showing that the eggs are now, by +their own caloric, heating the egg-chamber. + +I have often, during the last part of a hatch, when the thermometer was +ranging from 70 to 80 degrees outside of machine, placed a glass on the +hottest part of the boiler, where but one lamp was dimly burning, +carefully covering the glass. In that position it would register perhaps +96 to 98 degrees, while a glass inside the machine, and on the eggs, +would register 103 degrees, proving beyond a doubt that the eggs, by +their own caloric, were not only heating the egg-chamber, but +contributing their quota towards heating the water in the tank. Now, who +will pretend to say that a glass hanging above the eggs will give the +correct heat of the egg after circulation begins. So that, even in cold +weather, the amount of oil consumed during the last week of the hatch is +less than half the amount required during the first part. + +The operator must not expect the eggs to heat up at once. On the +contrary, they will cool the air in the egg-chamber very sensibly, +though they will not affect the heat of the water in the tank. It will +be from five to eight hours before they arrive at their normal heat. + + +How to Turn Eggs. + +At the end of forty-eight hours they may be turned. This should be done +by gathering up the eggs at the end of egg-tray and placing them upon +the eggs in centre of the tray, rolling the centre ones back to the end +of the tray. The tray should be reversed, and the same thing done to the +other end. It is not necessary that the eggs should be completely +reversed,--simply change the position, rolling over one-half or +one-third. + +The egg-trays should always be turned end for end, and changed from end +to centre of machine. This is necessary in case there should not be a +uniform heat in egg-chamber, as it will equalize matters, and, in a +measure, obviate the difficulty. Now, all this, though it takes some +time to describe it, can be done very quickly, requiring only a few +moments for each machine. I usually allow about ten minutes for each +1,000 eggs, though it can be done much quicker if one is in a hurry. I +am often requested by people to put in patent automatic egg-turning +trays in my machines, it would so simplify matters. I reply: + +"So it would; and when you can produce a machine with a perfect +uniformity of heat in the egg-chamber, I should be most happy to use an +automatic tray, but I have never yet seen that machine." In our own +double-cased Monarch, in cold weather, there is at least one degree +difference between the end and centre of egg-tray. In single-cased +machines this difference must be largely increased, and in automatic +trays the eggs must necessarily remain where they are placed through the +entire hatch. Now, under these conditions, if the heat is right in the +centre of trays it must be all wrong in the ends. The hatch will be +protracted long after the proper time, and if those on the ends of trays +come out at all it will be forty-eight hours behind time and with +weakened constitutions, keeping one in constant stir with their sickly +plaints. It is needless to say that there is a great mortality among +birds of that description, and at the end of ten days they are usually +among the things that were. + + +Hatching the Eggs. + +The next thing is testing the eggs. This matter is essential as well as +economical, with both hens and incubators. I once knew a man who ran a +six hundred-egg machine for three weeks on one fertile egg. The other +599 proved infertile, and he did not know it until they refused to hatch +at the end of three weeks--a great waste of oil, but a greater waste of +time,--three whole weeks in the best part of the season. Another man +kept forty hens sitting three weeks with an average of one fertile egg +to each bird, when three of them could have done all the hatching just +as well, and then, at the end of four days, could have had the rest put +upon better eggs. + +A great waste of hen power, you will say, with time lost, together with +forty dozen eggs, which would have been just as good for table use had +they been tested out in four days. It often happens in the winter, when +eggs are apt to be infertile, that, after testing the contents of four +trays, they can be contained in three, when the other can be filled with +fresh eggs. Here is where the advantage of adjustable trays comes in. +Often the operator running a large machine has not eggs enough to fill +it without a part of the eggs becoming very old, and also losing ten or +twelve days of valuable time; with the adjustable tray, eggs can be +introduced at any time, and the same heat preserved on all. I usually +test duck eggs at the end of the third day. The fertile germ is then +plainly visible, and the eggs can be passed before the light, several at +a time. + +The novice had better postpone the operation till the fourth day, when +he, too, will have no trouble in detecting the germ. The same rule will +hold good with all white eggs, but dark-brown eggs should not be tested +till the sixth or seventh day. This can be done much sooner, but a large +machine full cannot be tested in a minute, and the eggs should be far +enough advanced so that the operator can take two or three in his hand +at once, and passing them before the flame, readily detect the germ. I +never use a tester for duck eggs, as a simple flame is sufficient, the +egg being translucent. + +During the first stages of incubation the germ is very distinct, even at +the third day. The clear eggs are reserved for family use or disposed of +to bakers. An expert cannot distinguish them from a fresh-laid egg, +either in taste or appearance. There is usually a small percentage of +the eggs that are slightly fertilized, in which the germ will die during +the second or third day. These can be readily detected at the end of the +fifth day, and should be taken from the machine, and reserved as food +for the young ducklings. Another and potent reason why all infertile +eggs, and those with dead chicks in them, should be taken out of the +machine, is that after the circulation begins in the egg, especially +during the last part of the hatch, the temperature of a live egg is +several degrees higher than that of a dead one. The one radiates heat, +the other absorbs it; so that if the operator is running his machine 102 +degrees, with his glass on a dead egg, he may be all unconsciously +running it at 104 or 105 degrees on a live one. + +I had a letter from a man some time ago stating that his thermometers +were developing strange freaks,--that though they registered the same +while in water, at 103 degrees, when lying on the eggs a few inches from +each other in the machine, they were several degrees apart, and wishing +to know by which he should run, the higher or lower. I wrote him that +his glasses were all right, and that he was the one at fault, and had he +followed instructions and tested his eggs he would have had no such +trouble. He wrote that as his machine was not quite full, and as he had +plenty of room, he neglected to test them, thinking it would make no +difference. + +I do not propose here to give my experience, together with the many +experiments made during the last twenty years, but shall aim to give +the reader simple instructions for hatching and growing ducks for market +and selection of breeding stock. I would say here that the first thing +for the operator to learn in turning the eggs is to do it carefully and +well, without breaking or unnecessarily jarring them; and then, to do it +as quickly as possible, especially if done in a cold atmosphere, so as +not to derange the heat in the egg-chamber. The next thing is to +maintain as even a temperature as possible during the hatch. I do not +think that a variation of one degree is at all detrimental. But +different people have different ideas of regularity. A man who did not +have a first-class hatch, wrote me that he had kept the machine right to +business, as it had run between 90 and 110 degrees during the entire +hatch. Another man wrote that his machine had been as low as 100 +degrees, and once up to 103 degrees, and wishing to know if I thought it +would be fatal to his hatch. + +There is no such thing as accuracy in the composition of some men, +things are run "hap-hazard," failure and misfortune are always +attributed to conditions, circumstances, or hard luck,--never to +themselves,--and in case of a poor hatch, always the incubator. +Instructions go for nothing with them. An enterprising incubator maker +told me one day that he believed that the world was composed of cranks +and fools (at least the poultry part of it). The one-half did not know +anything, while the other half had all that was worth knowing and +despised all instructions and common-sense. + +In running your machine, the first step is to set it level and see that +the glasses register alike in both ends of the machine. Next, procure +good oil, 150 test (as poor oil will necessitate frequent trimming, +besides crusting the wick). Do not use more flame than is necessary, as +it will only be a waste of oil, and with some machines will increase +the ventilation, and at the same time decrease the moisture. Be regular +in both filling lamps and trimming them, as irregularity frequently +involves forgetfulness, and that sometimes means disaster to the hatch. +In trimming, it is well to turn on the same amount of flame in +relighting your lamp as it had previously. + +In the Monarch Incubator this required amount can readily be seen at +once by the action of the regulating bar. It informs the operator just +when he has enough,--when too much and when too little. Keep both lamps +and chimneys clean, and have stated periods for turning your eggs, which +should be done twice each day. As I said before, an egg-tester is not +required with duck eggs, as they are so transparent that the whole +process can be plainly seen without in the flame of a common kerosene +lamp. If a duck egg is carefully examined, after being subjected to a +heat of 102 degrees for twenty-four hours, a small dark spot will be +seen about the size of a large pin-head. This little spot, if the egg is +gradually turned, will always float over the upper surface of the egg. +This is the life germ, and the first indication of fertility in the egg, +and is represented in Figure 1. + +[Illustration: FIGURE 1.--SHOWING FIRST INDICATION OF FERTILITY.] + +At the end of forty-eight hours this dark spot will have nearly doubled +its size, and a faint haze will appear around its edges a shade darker +than the surrounding contents of the egg. This haze is the first +appearance of the blood veins radiating out from the germ. + +Figure 2 shows how the egg appears at this stage with the air-cell +slightly enlarged. + +[Illustration: FIGURE 2.--EGG AT END OF 48 HOURS.] + +At the end of the third day the dark spot, which is the heart of the +embryo duck, can still be seen; but not so distinctly, because a dark +circle some three-quarters of an inch in diameter will now appear in the +upper surface of the egg, in the centre of which the dark spot is +visible. This circle is several shades darker than the rest of the egg, +and no matter how the egg is turned will always float in its upper +surface. + +Figure 3 represents the egg at this stage, with its enlarged air-cell. + +Figure 4 represents the egg as it appears at the end of the fourth day. +The circle surrounding and inclosing the germ will have nearly doubled +in size, and is of a still darker hue; indeed, the whole contents of the +egg is perceptibly darkened. If the egg is broken carefully at this date +a delicate tracery of veins will be found to have enveloped the entire +yolk of the egg, all originating from the centre or heart of the embryo; +the pulsations of which (if the shell is removed) can now be plainly +seen with the naked eye. This net work of veins cannot be plainly seen +with a common lamp, but with a powerful glass are very distinct. This +latter is not at all necessary in testing the egg. + +[Illustration: FIGURE 3.--EGG AT END OF 72 HOURS.] + +[Illustration: FIGURE 4.--EGG AT END OF 96 HOURS.] + +The discovery and locations of the minute organisms may be interesting +to the scientist, but not at all necessary to the operator, who simply +wants to be assured of the life and health of the germ. This he can +readily determine from the increased size and gradual development of the +circle; it, and the contents of the egg, now assume a darker shade. Up +to this time I use no moisture, and the contents of the eggs have +gradually evaporated and the air-cell proportionately enlarged. This +air-cell is slightly enlarged till the tenth day, when no further +evaporation should take place. About three days before hatching the +rapidly developing duck will gradually diminish the size of the +air-cell, leaving himself just room enough to work out. + +Nature, in the case of the old hen, provides for her own contingencies, +while we must resort to art to obtain the same conditions. + +While incubating under the hen during the first few days, the egg +evaporates rapidly. Then the pores gradually become coated with an oily +secretion from the feathers of the hen until evaporation ceases. Now, we +cannot successfully fill the pores of the eggs, it is too delicate an +operation to attempt; but we can easily obtain the same conditions in +another way, and that is to prevent the further evaporation of the egg +by vaporizing water in the egg-chamber, so that evaporation will not +take place. Exactly when this should be done is already known, but +exactly how much is quite another thing, and depends largely upon the +conditions of the atmosphere outside. The point is this: the humidity +inside the egg-chamber must be the same, whatever the conditions are +outside. + +If your machine is in a warm, dry room, heated by a fire, far more +evaporating surface will be required than in a cool, dry cellar, for the +reason that water vaporizes just in proportion to its heat; and as the +circulating pipes upon which the water-pans rest must necessarily be +much warmer in a cold room than in a warm one, of course more surface +must be exposed in a warm than in a cold one. The operator will always +have to use his judgment more or less in that. It may perplex the novice +somewhat, but it is easily understood when one becomes accustomed to it. + +As a rule, in our machines, we introduce one moisture pan about the 18th +day for both duck's and hen's eggs. It makes some difference whether a +machine is run in a humid atmosphere near the seashore or in a dry, +rarified atmosphere at an altitude in the country. + +Figure 5 represents the egg at the end of the fifth day, the circle +enlarged, shaded darker in color; the whole egg being slightly darker in +hue. + +[Illustration: FIGURE 5.--EGG AT END OF 120 HOURS.] + +Figure 6, at the end of the sixth day, shows still more plainly the germ +undergoing a gradual change in the egg, enlarging and assuming a darker +hue. The outline of the circle is now gradually acquiring the form of an +ellipse, and in a live embryo the line of demarkation should be +distinct. If it is at all wavy and irregular in its outline, and +instead, remaining intact, the contents of this ellipse show a +disposition to assimilate with the surrounding liquids when the egg is +revolved, it can be safely removed as a dead duck. + +[Illustration: FIGURE 6.--EGG AT END OF 144 HOURS.] + +Figure 7 represents a dead embryo, as it will appear from the seventh to +the twelfth day. The germ being separated and appearing in dark +irregular blotches over the entire surface of the egg; the egg having +become nearly opaque over its entire surface. At this stage the egg, if +it has not already become so, will soon be very offensive. These should +be removed at once and handled carefully the while, as they are apt to +explode and unpleasant consequences ensue. The operator should run no +risks, as discoloration on the outside shell of a duck egg is a sure +sign of decay, and they can safely be taken from the machine. There are +always a certain number of duck eggs (especially during the month of +August and the latter part of July) that have the appearance of +fertility during the first three or four days of the hatch, but do not +possess vitality enough to carry them through. These die at all stages +of the hatch; neither operator nor machine is responsible for them. This +is caused by the condition of the mother bird. + +[Illustration: FIGURE 7.--A DEAD EMBRYO.] + +In order to economize the room thus made by the removal of the fertile +eggs, I run a small 150-egg machine, in connection with twenty-one of +the largest size, using it, as it were, as a tender. When filling one of +the larger machines, I always fill one tray in the smaller one so that +when the eggs in the large one are tested, after the third day, there +will usually be eggs enough in the small tray to replace those removed +as infertile, so that the large machines are kept full during the entire +hatch by the little one. Thus the small machine is made to accomplish +far more than it would were it run through the hatch. I am thus enabled +to have a hatch come off nearly every day, consequently our eggs are +never older than that when introduced into the machine. Always date +each day's quota of eggs--keep them by themselves, then there will be no +mistakes made. I have known parties to keep one general receptacle for +their eggs, and when filling their machine take them from the top, while +the bottom ones were never disturbed, not even turned, and of course +soon became worthless for any purpose. + +Figure 8 denotes the appearance of the egg during the eighth day of +incubation. If portions of the shell are carefully removed at this +stage, the rudimentary intestines may be plainly seen, together with the +gradual development of the beak and eyes, as well as the trembling of +the pulsating arteries through the whole embryo. + +[Illustration: FIGURE 8.--EGG AFTER 192 HOURS.] + +At this stage the operator should mark all doubtful eggs and return them +to the machine, as he will find plenty of room there. He will soon +become expert, and can detect life and death in the germ at a glance. +Experience alone will give the operator an insight into this business. +The incipient stages of decay, though easily detected by the expert, +cannot be intelligently described by him. The application of a little +heat for the short space of twenty days to an inert mass, developing it +into active, intelligent life, is simply wonderful. The process and +effect he can easily describe, but the procreative power behind it all +is beyond his ken. Should a little duckling be taken from the shell on +the thirteenth or fourteenth day it will resemble Figure 9. It will kick +and struggle several moments after its removal. The yolk is not yet +absorbed, but the process is just beginning and will continue until the +twenty-fourth day, when it will be nearly absorbed. The egg, from the +fourteenth day rapidly assumes a darker hue. + +[Illustration: FIGURE 9.] + +The extremities of the little bird gradually develop, the feathers grow, +and at the twentieth day the egg is opaque. At this stage the embryo +will endure greater extremes of heat or cold than at the earlier stage +of the hatch. I should not advise the operator to presume upon this, +however, but just make the conditions as favorable as he can, so that +the little bird will have the strength to free himself from the shell. I +need not say that this is the most critical time during the whole +process, and matters should be made as favorable for the little duckling +as possible. About the twenty-fourth day he will be already to break the +shell, but, unlike the chick, who will make his way out of the shell a +few hours after he has pipped, the duckling will lay for forty-eight +hours before he is ready to come out. At this time there should be +plenty of moisture in the egg-chamber, for should the orifice or broken +parts become dry, and the little duckling, in consequence, be attached +to the inside lining so that he cannot turn, he can never get out +without help. + +[Illustration: FIGURE 10.] + +When the hatch is well underway a little more air should be allowed to +circulate in the egg-chamber, and a part of the evaporating surface can +be removed, for as each duckling makes its appearance he becomes a +little sponge, until dried off, and furnishes plenty of moisture for the +machine. When nearly dried off the duckling should be dropped into the +nursery below the egg-trays. While hatching, the eggs should be kept +pipped side up in the trays, as the birds sometimes get smothered when +the orifice is underneath. The dry birds should be dropped below about +once in four hours, for, if allowed to accumulate, they will roll the +egg upside down, crowd the egg-shells over the pipped eggs, or pile +themselves over the egg, smothering the young birds. + +This work should be done very quickly, so as not to derange the +temperature of the machine. Be sure to keep the heat up in your machine, +for its tendency is always to go down during hatching, for the reason +that the egg radiates a great deal of heat, while the little duckling, +with its woolly covering (which is a non-conductor), retains it. Many +people advocate allowing the little fledglings to remain with the eggs +until all are hatched, but this is all wrong, not only for the above +reasons, but for one which is far more important than either. + +The amount of heat requisite to hatch the eggs is too much for the young +birds already hatched and dried off. With chamber at 102 degrees, they +will be seen crowding around the sides of machine with their little +bills wide open, gasping for breath, when, had they been placed below, +the proper temperature can be maintained in both, as the bottom of +machine runs at least five degrees lower than the egg-trays. + + +Be sure and Follow Instructions. + +Another fertile source of trouble is removing ducklings from machine, +putting them behind the stove, or somewhere else to dry off. For every +fifteen birds removed, the heat in egg-chamber is reduced at least one +degree, as you are removing so many little stoves, and if the machine is +not gauged higher, to correspond with the number of ducklings taken out, +the result will be fatal to the unhatched eggs. + +I corresponded a whole summer with one man on this very point before I +found out what he was doing. He said he had never been able to get out +more than fifty per cent. of fertile eggs. His machine ran splendidly +until his chicks were about half hatched, when it would drop down to 90 +degrees, and the rest would die in the shell, after they were nearly all +pipped. At last a letter came from him stating that he had just had a +worse experience than ever. He had a most promising hatch of three +hundred fertile eggs, nearly all of which were pipped, and that, after a +little more than half were hatched, he took them out as usual, about one +hundred and fifty in number, and put them behind the stove to dry off, +and his machine dropped to 90 degrees at once, and not another chick +came out. The cat was out of the bag. + +I wrote him at once that for every fifteen chicks he had taken out he +had taken one degree of heat from his machine, and had he followed +instructions he would not have suffered loss. He wrote back that he had +shut up his machine for the season, but that he should run it one more +hatch just to prove that I was wrong. At the end of three weeks a letter +was received saying, "I tender you my hat. I got a splendid hatch of +88-1/2 per cent." Proving that occasionally there is danger of the +operator knowing too much. After the ducklings are all out, the +egg-trays should be removed, the valves opened, and the machine cooled +down to 90 degrees, and the birds allowed to remain in the machine for +at least twenty-four hours. I always cover the bottom of machine with an +inch of fine wheat-bran, otherwise the ducklings would soon make it +filthy and offensive. This acts both as absorbent and disinfectant. + +After each hatch there will be more or less fertile eggs left in the +trays with dead ducklings in them. There will be, comparatively, but few +of these in the spring of the year, but during the latter part of the +summer there will be more of them, and many of the eggs will have but +little vitality in them. + + +Forcing the Bird Reduces the Vitality of the Egg. + +The reason is this: the bird in its natural condition does not produce +her eggs in our climate until April. She will lay twenty-five to thirty +eggs, then show a desire to incubate, then will recuperate, and set a +second time, perhaps giving a total of thirty-five or forty eggs. Now, +we have completely reversed nature in this respect. By judicious +feeding, good care, warm quarters, and careful breeding, we have induced +the bird to produce her eggs in winter instead of summer, and, not only +that, we compel her to lay three or four times as many of them; and when +the poor bird shows a desire to incubate and recuperate her exhausted +frame, we induce a change of mind, as soon as possible, and set her at +it again. + +As a natural consequence, as the warm season advances many of the birds +are off duty, as it were, and the eggs not only decrease in numbers but +in size as well, and during the extreme heat of summer, the later part +of July and August especially, the eggs show a decided want of vitality. +I never expect, at this season, to realize more than one duckling from +two eggs. The same machine full of eggs that would give a hatch of 350 +ducklings in the early spring, at this season will not give more than +175 to 200. The eggs appear to be as well fertilized during the first +two or three days as in the early spring but evidently there is not +vitality enough to carry them through, as the germs soon begin to die, +and before the hatch is out you have taken nearly one-half of the eggs +away as worthless. Nor is this all. + +There is always a far greater mortality among the later hatched +birds than in those got out earlier. They are more uneven in +appearance, and never attain the size of those hatched earlier in the +season,--convincing evidence that the old birds have transmitted their +enfeebled, debilitated constitutions through the egg to the young ones. +The natural laws of cause and effect are plainly represented here. I +have tried repeatedly to overcome this difficulty by changing the feed +and quarters of the old birds, dividing their numbers, but without +effect. This shows the absolute necessity of selecting large, vigorous +breeding stock. This principle applies equally to both land and water +fowl. + + +The Absolute Necessity of Good Breeding Stock. + +Debilitated, degenerate stock will not produce healthy and vigorous +young. This is a prime cause of failure with many of our poultry +breeders. They say that they cannot afford to breed from their +early-hatched stock. They are worth too much in the market, so they are +sent to the shambles, and their owners breed from the later-hatched, +inferior birds. A few years practice of this kind soon degenerates the +stock so that you will hardly recognize the original in it, and both +birds and eggs are not only thus, but a very small per cent. of those +eggs can be induced to hatch, and no amount of petting and coaxing can +induce those that are hatched to live. + +Every young breeder of poultry should inform himself of these facts +before he starts in, for no living man can afford to breed from inferior +stock. I passed through experiences of this kind many years ago, and +always found that the laws of primogeniture cannot be lightly set aside. +I invariably select the choicest of my early hatched birds for breeding +stock, and no matter how high the price in market, I cannot afford to +sell them. A gentleman, who is a large breeder, said to me the past +spring: "How is it that your ducks are so much larger than mine? I +bought stock from you four years ago, and have been breeding from it +ever since, and now your birds are six or eight pounds per pair heavier +than mine." "True, but you bought my latest-hatched birds, because they +were cheap, and have been breeding from your latest-hatched birds ever +since, while I have been breeding only from the choicest of my early +birds. You have been steadily breeding your stock down, while I have +been breeding mine up. There is now a wide gap between them." + + +Caring for the Ducklings when Hatched. + +The little ducklings should be left in the machine for at least +twenty-four hours longer. Be sure and open the air-valves and give them +plenty of air, so that they may be well dried off. A uniform heat of 90 +degrees should be held in the egg-chamber. The outer doors of the +machine should be closed and the little fellows kept in darkness the +first twelve hours. After that the outer doors should be let down. Then +you will see some fun, for the little ducklings are far more active than +chicks, and will begin to play at once. In the meantime the +brooding-house should be prepared for the reception of the young brood. +The heat should be started some twenty-four hours previous to use. + +The brooding-house should be the same whether you are growing on a small +scale or a large one, with simply the length proportioned to your needs. +But always recollect that heat should radiate from above on your +ducklings, as bottom heat will soon cripple them in the legs and render +them helpless. In fact, I do not consider bottom heat as essential even +for chicks. The most successful grower I know of, who grows 3,000 chicks +each spring, getting them all out between January 1st and March 1st, and +closes up the whole business by July 1st, uses top heat exclusively. He +has experimented fairly with both, and says he wants no more bottom +heat. If the breeder is growing on a small scale it will be economy for +him to use brooders instead of a heater. + +Figure 11 represents the best duck brooder I know of. As there is no +patent on it anyone can make it who has the conveniences. This brooder +is six and a half feet long by three feet wide, and will accommodate 150 +ducklings. These brooders are of the most improved construction, are +intended for both indoor and outdoor work, keeping the young ducks dry +and warm in cold, stormy weather, even when located out of doors. The +heat is generated in copper boilers, the water flowing through a +galvanized iron tank, under which the young ducklings hover. This tank +is five feet long, twelve inches wide, and about an inch thick, and is +hung about eight inches from ends and back of brooder, leaving nearly +eighteen inches in front the entire length of brooder, in which to feed +the first day or two. The case of this brooder is made of matched boards +and thoroughly ventilated and furnished with glass doors to admit light. +This brooder should be used in the brooding-house during winter and +early spring, after which it can be used to better advantage out of +doors. + +[Illustration: FIGURE 11.--BROODER.] + +Let it be understood that a good brooder is, next to the incubator, the +most important thing in the business. It is worse than useless to get +out large hatches of strong, healthy birds, only to have them smothered +or chilled in worthless brooders. Numbers of the patent brooders now on +the market are made by men who never raised a chick or duck in their +lives, and are regular fire and death traps. Many instances have come +under my personal notice where not only ducks, chicks, and brooders, +but the buildings themselves have been entirely consumed by these fire +traps. + +Again, those brooders are always rated for higher than their actual +capacity. Ignorant parties buy them, fill them up according to +instructions, when a sad mortality is sure to follow from overcrowding +and consequent overheating. This is especially the case with chicks. +Ducklings never smother each other from overcrowding, but, of course, +will not thrive when too closely packed. These 150-duck brooders can be +run at an expense of two cents per day for oil. In extreme cold weather +artificial heat should be kept up in these brooders for three weeks; in +warm weather, a week is sufficient. The same brooders can be used over +and over as fast as the new hatches come out. When brooders are removed, +closed boxes can be used instead. + +When the operator does business large enough to require the use of five +or six brooders, it would be cheaper for him to put in a heater at once, +as the original cost of the heater would be less than that of the +brooders. Years ago, when the question of heaters was first agitated, +the cost was enormous, and the consumption of coal in proportion. Large +hot-house boilers were used, often at a cost of several hundred dollars +before the thing was ready for use. Now a good heating system can be +arranged for a building one hundred feet long at an expense not +exceeding $100. This, of course, would be much less than a complement of +brooders for the same building. + + +Advantages of the Heating System. + +The heating system has several marked advantages over the brooders. One +is, that during the extreme cold of winter the building is always warm +enough for the little birds, while with nothing but brooders it would +often freeze around them, necessitating feeding inside the brooders, +which would not be as healthy for the ducklings. Again there would be a +great saving of labor, as a self-regulating heater would require no more +care than a single brooder, while the oil consumed in the brooders would +fully equal the cost of coal required for the heater. + +There is one point here which the beginner should always take into +consideration in the selection of a heater, and that is, be sure and get +one that will give you the greatest amount of heat for the fuel +consumed. The patent steam and water heaters now upon the market are too +numerous to mention. But there is a vast difference in the economy of +these heaters. + +When contemplating the purchase of a heater, several years ago, I called +upon a party who was running a newly-purchased heater. He seemed very +much pleased with it, and said it ran admirably,--warmed his buildings +nicely, and only cost about one dollar per day for coal. I made up my +mind then and there that I should run my brooders a while longer. But on +interrogating another party using one of a different pattern, he assured +me that his heaters warmed both brooders and buildings in good shape at +a cost of fifteen cents per day. This was presenting the matter in a new +phase. The difference in cost of running these heaters one year would +purchase two. I am now running three heaters called the "Bramhall-Deane +Heater" and am heating two brooding houses (one 250 feet long, the other +175 feet long), at half the cost per day. Either steam or water may be +used. I prefer water for both safety and economy. + +For instance, should the fire go out accidentally the heat would cease +at once where steam was used, while water would hold its heat for hours, +and would continue to circulate just so long as the water in the boiler +was hotter than that in the pipes. I do not know but there are other +heaters in the market just as economical as the "Bramhall-Deane," but I +know of several prominent poultry men who are changing their heating +principle, not because they are dissatisfied with the work done by that +now in use, but solely on account of the expense attending it. + +Figure 12 represents our brooding-house as it appears outside. Its +dimensions have already been given. It is boarded in with +closely-fitting hemlock boards, the whole being covered on the outside +with the heaviest quality of "Paroid" Roofing. + +[Illustration: BROODING HOUSE. (FIG. 12.)] + +This roofing is manufactured by F. W. Bird & Son, East Walpole, Mass. We +have more than an acre under roofing, a large proportion of which is +covered with Paroid. We find it strong, pliable, insusceptible to either +heat or cold and to all appearances will be more durable than anything +we have ever used. I have many buildings covered with this roofing. In +applying it, begin at the eaves, lapping it 1-1/2 inches. It is so heavy +that it does not require wooden strips to hold it down, simply nails and +tin caps, which should be about an inch apart. A coat of the liquid, +which goes with it, will glaze it over in good shape. For a flat roof, +it is far better than shingles at less than half the cost. + + +Interior Arrangement of Brooding-House. + +As the construction of this building has been already noticed, I will +proceed to describe its interior arrangement for a brooding-house. In +the first place, as in the breeding-house, there should be a walk three +feet wide the entire length of the building on the back side. Next to +the walk, and parallel with it, the brooder box should run. This box +will be thirty inches wide, and like the walk, the entire length of the +building. In my building the brooding arrangement is very simple, +being a box with two sides resting on the ground, eight inches high in +the clear, the ground being utilized as the bottom of brooder. + +This brooding-box consists of two parts. The sides, seven inches wide, +are nailed securely, and constitute the sides of the pipe-stand. The +cover is portable, with cleats nailed across the top to strengthen it, +and with strips an inch wide nailed underneath, in front and in back, to +keep it in position. These strips are supposed to rest on the seven-inch +strips in the sides, and, when the cover is on, make a tight brooder. + +Figure 13 represents the interior of brooding-house, with these covers +on the brooders and ready for use. Also, with two of the covers removed +showing the heating pipes. These consist of a two-inch flow and return, +running parallel with each other the entire length of the building, and +lying ten inches apart from centre to centre. These pipes rest upon +cross boards, whose length corresponds with the width of the brooder, +and to which the sides are nailed; two-inch holes are cut out in the top +of these boards into which the pipes are laid, the upper surface of +which comes flush with the top of the boards, so that when the cover of +brooders is in position it rests equally on pipes and boards. + +[Illustration: _PLAN OF BROODING HOUSE._ (FIG. 13.)] + +The distance between these boards corresponds with the width of pens +outside of brooder, and constitute partitions for the same. The +partitions are simply inch boards, twelve or fourteen inches wide, +fitting into ground in front of building to keep them upright and in +position. The front of the brooder leading into the pens is cut out in +centre of brooder four feet long and four inches deep to allow the free +passage of the ducklings. These openings in the first four pens are +fringed with woolen cloth, cut up every four inches, to keep the +brooder warmer in cold weather. The remaining brooders are not fringed, +for reasons which will appear hereafter. The heater can be located in +the end of building most convenient to the operator. + +The bottom of the pens should consist of sand which, when it becomes +wet, and before it becomes offensive, should be covered with fine +sawdust. This is a good absorbent and disinfectant as well. The inside +of the four brooders next the heater should be filled up with hay chaff +to within four inches of the pipes, the distance being gradually +increased as you near the other end of the building, until the whole +eight inches in height will be required, using simply sawdust enough to +disinfect the bottom of brooder. This is my present brooding +arrangement, with the exception of a common door handle screwed on each +brooder cover to facilitate handling. It may not suit every one; some +may want it more ornamental, more expensive; others may wish to simplify +it still more. But such as it is, it is now all ready for use, with heat +applied. + +But those little ducklings, who have been waiting all this time in the +machine, are getting both hungry and impatient, and require immediate +attention. The food which has already been prepared consists of a +formula composed of four parts wheat-bran, one part corn-meal with +enough of low grade flour to connect the mass without making it sticky +or pasty, in fact, it should be crumbly so that the little birds can eat +it readily. About five per cent. of fine, sharp grit should be mixed +into their first feed, after that, one or two per cent. is all +sufficient. This grit should be increased in size as the birds grow +older. + +About the third day, a little fine beef-scrap should be introduced, +soaking it a little before mixing. When a few days old, a little green +rye, if obtainable, should be given them, or as a substitute, finely +chopped cabbage or lettuce. When the birds are two weeks old, one part +corn-meal to three parts bran should be used. This food should be +scattered upon the feeding-troughs, which are simply one-half inch +boards, nine or ten inches wide, by three or four feet long, with laths +nailed on the sides and ends. Small water-cans, inverted in tin saucers, +so that the ducklings can drink readily without getting wet, should +stand convenient to the food. + + +How to Remove the Ducklings Without Injury. + +To facilitate the removal of ducklings from the machine, I have a square +basket some two and one-half feet long, by fifteen inches wide and one +foot high, with close covers, hinged in the centre. In order to secure +the ducklings, usually all that is necessary is to open one door of +machine, hold this basket under it and make a little chuckling noise, +and strange to say, the little fellows will run out over the pipes, over +the glass door, down into the basket in dozens as fast as their little +legs and wings can carry them. This basket will hold 100 ducklings +conveniently. When full, it should be carried to the brooding-house and +carefully inverted over the feeding-boards. + +The little birds will begin eating at once. This process can be repeated +until the machine is emptied. There will be some of the later-hatched +ones that should be allowed to remain in the machine ten or twelve hours +longer, as they can be cared for better there. These can be readily +detected, as they are not as active as the others, and perhaps not +completely dried off. The ducklings should be put out, if possible, +during the middle of the day, and while the sun shines through the +windows, as they can be fed in the sun and put under the brooder later +in the day. + +In event of there being no sun, it will not do to feed under the +brooding-box, as it is too dark. I then take a one-half inch board, four +feet long (to correspond with the length of opening in front of brooder) +and six inches wide. I nail two pieces of the same width and height, one +foot long, on to each end of this board, forming a parallelogram four +feet long and one foot wide, minus one side. This is set up in front of +the opening in brooder, and being of the same length, forms a little pen +in front of brooder one foot wide, in which the feeding-trough can be +placed with drinking fount. + +The ducklings can then run out and in and feed when they wish. This +board will only be needed for a day or two, when it can be taken up and +reserved for the next brood. The ducklings should be fed once in two +hours, scattering a little food on the troughs. Be sure that they eat +clean before more is given. At the end of a week the regular feed should +be four meals each day. + + +How to Feed. + +When I can get stale baker's bread I use that in connection with, and +instead of, bran. It can be profitably mixed with milk, not too sour, +when it can be had for a cent a quart. But do not give milk as +drink,--the young birds will smear themselves all over with it, their +beaks and eyes will be stuck up, the down will come off their little +bodies in large patches, and they will be a constant aggravation. I was +once called upon to visit an establishment, the owner of which +complained that his ducklings did not grow, and he was very anxious for +me to locate the trouble. I found six to eight hundred ducklings there +of all ages, and, strange to say, nearly of one size; and one lot of +nearly three hundred ducklings eight weeks old would not average one +pound each, when they should have weighed four pounds. + +[Illustration] + +Such a sight I never saw before, and hope never to see again. Of all the +miserable, squalid, contemptible looking objects, those ducklings took +the lead. This man had not only mixed their food with milk, but had kept +it by them in open troughs, and the birds had bathed in it and spattered +it over each other until there was hardly a feather left on their +emaciated bodies; and yet this man did not know what ailed his ducks. + +Is it strange that some people fail in the poultry business? + +When in full operation, we run twenty-one large machines, and as it +requires twenty-seven days to close up each hatch, of course we have a +hatch come off nearly every day. Now as each hatch is supposed to occupy +two brooder-pens with the corresponding yards, in the course of five or +six weeks that brooding-house will be filled with its complement of +3,000 ducklings. These will be of all ages, from the little puff-balls +just from the machine, to the half-grown bird of six weeks old. The +brooding pipes are supposed to radiate the same amount of heat at the +extreme end of the building as they do next the heater, consequently the +brooders are of the same temperature in all their parts. Not so the +building. + +As the heater radiates a great deal of heat, the end in which this is +located is always 12 or 15 degrees warmer than the other and is thus +better adapted to the comfort of the newly hatched ducklings than the +other, so I always put the birds fresh from the machine next the heater, +while the older ones are passed down the building. This is a very simple +process. One end of the partition board is lifted up a little, food +scattered in a trough in the empty pen adjoining, the ducklings will +rush under in a moment, then the board is dropped. The same process is +continued until all are moved and the building filled. + +[Illustration: INSIDE PLAN OF DOUBLE BROODING HOUSE.] + +The building just described we term our nursery, and has a capacity of +about 2,500 birds. When full, the older birds are probably about two +weeks old, and of course these older ones must be removed to make room +for successive hatches of younger birds. For this purpose, we +constructed a building 125 feet long, 32 feet wide, which we style our +double brooding house. It runs east and west with a walk four feet wide +through the centre, with brooding-pens on each side. This building has +the same capacity of a single building 250 feet long, and accommodates +about 5,000 birds. On the south side of this walk our brooder boxes are +arranged. + +At one end of the building is a heater, from which an inch-and-a-half +flow and return pipe runs under the brooder boxes the entire length of +the building and furnishes heat for the little birds. The brooder-boxes +are located twenty inches from the side of the walk. The ducklings are +fed and watered in this space, and are not allowed in it except for that +purpose. To effect this, the covers of the brooding-boxes, which are six +feet long by two feet wide, are cut in the centre the entire length, and +hinged with a perpendicular lip, which when closed, meets an upright +board below, some two inches high, shutting brooders tight, excluding +ducklings from feeding apartment, so that it is always sweet and clean. + +By this arrangement, the ducklings are all fed and watered from the +walk, thus reducing the labor to a minimum, while there is no danger of +crushing the little birds under foot or under the troughs. The attendant +is not hampered in his movements, but can work as quickly as he likes. +All he has to do is to distribute the food and water, throwing the +covers back as he goes, when the ducklings, which are always waiting, +rush in and soon fill themselves. Twenty minutes is all that is required +for them to eat and drink. + +A person of good judgment can easily determine about how much the birds +will consume, though it is well for him to pass along the walk, giving a +little more food where their wants are not satisfied, or taking up what +is left over, shutting the covers down when the birds are through. + +As this building is well piped, distributing water at both ends, as well +as at the mixing-box and heater, it makes the feeding almost a pastime, +the work is done so easily. This building is just what we have been +looking for. There are none on the place that pleases us so well. Its +many advantages over a single building must be evident to all. The +increased facility for doing the work, as well as its economy in housing +many more birds for the money invested, are not the least. + +When planning this building, we had some misgiving about running it east +and west as the lay of the land required, thinking that the exposure on +the north side during the inclement weather of the early spring, would +confine the young birds to the building and they would suffer for want +of exercise, but we were agreeably disappointed as we found that they +thrived equally as well, if not better, on the north side as on the +south, proving what I have always known in duck culture, that the +extreme heat of summer is more debilitating to young birds than the cold +of winter, and that early hatched birds will always be of larger size +and more robust physique than late ones. + +That is why I have always made it a point to select my early hatched +birds for breeding purposes. I have never known any too good for that. I +insert cuts of this double building, with the older ducklings on the +north side and the younger ones on the south. Were I to build another, I +should duplicate it in every respect. + +[Illustration] + + +Regulation of Heat in Brooders. + +Now, as the birds grow larger, they naturally need less heat, and we +must contrive to fix it so they do not get so much. As stated before, no +fringe is used beyond the first four brooders,--the space in front being +left open; and not only that, but we gradually raise the back of the +cover next the walk until it opens an inch or more the entire length of +the pen. Those ducklings, before they reach the other end of this +brooding-house, will weigh (if well cared for) over a pound each. + +The brooder will not then be large enough to hold them, neither do they +require the heat, in fact it would be injurious at this age; so before +the birds reach the extreme end of the building I shut them off from the +brooders entirely by placing a board in front of the opening. The young +birds will always thrive better out of doors than in; and when two weeks +old I always let them out during the sunny days of April, by opening the +slides in front. + +At this stage of growth when the birds are from two to four weeks old, +especially with the early hatches when confined as they usually are +during the inclement weather in winter, unless extreme care is taken, a +sad mortality is sure to follow. + +There is a great tendency at this stage of growth, when the birds are +confined, to overfeed as well as to overheat in the brooders. This, +coupled with too little exercise is sure to cripple the birds, weaken +their legs and render them helpless. Even experienced growers sometimes +get a little careless and lose whole hatches. We have numerous letters +from all parts of the country in which people write "My ducklings are +all crippled, cannot walk and are dying off fast. What shall I do?" +There is only one thing; feed sparingly, and give all the exercise +possible. Often, the want of grit will cause the same trouble. + +(Our yards have been prepared for this the previous autumn, and are now +covered with a thick coat of green rye five or six inches high.) To +accomplish this, I make pens outside the building in front, ten feet +long, and of a width to correspond with the pens inside. I simply use +old boards a foot wide, tacking them together with wire nails, as it is +only a temporary arrangement. When snow falls it must be shoveled out at +once. Just as soon as the weather and the condition of the ground will +allow, I set up the partition wire outside to correspond with the width +of pens inside. This wire partition runs the whole length of the yard; +and as the yards are 100 feet deep, it gives the ducklings a yard 6x100 +feet. I always feed outside whenever the weather will permit. It is +needless to say that the sanitary arrangements in this building are of +the utmost importance. Indeed, it will require constant watchfulness and +care on the part of the attendant. + + +The Sanitary Arrangements. + +With several thousand ducklings confined in one building, the tendency +is decidedly filthy. The capacity of the duckling for filth is +wonderful, and he comes honestly by it. It is simply astonishing how +soon he will manage to mix the contents of his water-tank with that of +his yard and make both sloppy and offensive. The chick is nowhere in +comparison. It is true, the duck is not so easily affected by it as the +chick, but it will not do to presume too much upon that. At this stage +the attendant will be kept busy every moment from daylight to dark. + +Not only the regular feeding four times a day requires his attention, +but the simple mixing of seventy-five to one hundred bushels of feed +each day is quite a little job of itself, especially when the different +ingredients should be exact. The water tanks also must be regularly +cleaned and filled. The troughs should be carefully cleaned before +feeding, as the ducks will readily eat all foreign matter together with +the food. In short, the whole business must be systematized all the way +through, and the attendant should understand that it is never safe to +neglect a single detail. + +[Illustration: OUR DOUBLE BROODING HOUSE. (South side.)] + +I had always made a point of doing this duty myself. A few years ago, +not feeling well and having other business requiring my attention, I +engaged a man whom I considered competent to do this business for me. I +took him over the yards, showed and told him just how the thing must be +done; watched him to see that he did the work faithfully and complied +with all its details. Things went on apparently well for a week or two, +when, going home one day, I noticed a number of dead ducklings lying +around, and looking under the brooder I found quite a number more. I at +once interviewed the man and cautioned him. He insisted that he had +followed the instructions to the letter. But the mortality did not +abate, on the contrary it increased to an alarming extent; and I had +lost more ducklings in one month than I had lost for ten years previous. + +I watched him and found that the feeding-troughs were not cleaned at +all, and when the birds scattered the sawdust in them the food was +thrown on that, the ducklings consuming both. The food was thrown partly +in the trough and partly on the ground; apparently a matter of perfect +indifference to him. The water-tanks were not rinsed out. Instead of +stepping over the eighteen-inch partition wires he stepped on them, +breaking down the standards and flattening down the wire, so that the +birds were all mixed together promiscuously,--ducklings two weeks old +with those of six weeks. The little ones were trodden down by the older +ones and almost denuded of their feathers, and there was no thrift to +be seen anywhere. To say that I was indignant does not express it. I had +often seen such a condition of things elsewhere, but not before on my +own ranch; I was absolutely ashamed to show visitors around the yards as +long as this state of things existed. + +[Illustration: OUR DOUBLE BROODING HOUSE. (North side.)] + +That man was promptly discharged, and I undertook the feeding myself. +The birds were sorted out and returned to their own yards, the wire +replaced, the feeding-troughs cleaned, the pens carefully disinfected. +In four days double the amount of food was consumed and things were +decidedly improved. But those birds never acquired that uniformity of +size and appearance which had always characterized my market birds. The +best material to use in the pens inside the brooding-house is dry, fine +sawdust, if it can be obtained. It is by far the best thing I know of +for the purpose. The next best is finely chopped straw or hay, tanbark, +etc. The brooders, like the pens, require close attention. The top +should be scraped off before it becomes offensive, and new material +applied. This can be easily done by simply lifting the edge of the cover +next the walk and drawing it over into the walk, when it can be taken in +a barrow or basket. + + +The Necessity of Green Food. + +It must be remembered that as the broods grow older the cleaning process +must be repeated oftener, as their capacity for generating filth will +always be in proportion to their size. Those unacquainted with +duck-culture have little idea how fast these birds will grow; how soon +they will successively outgrow brooders, pens and yards, and how soon +every vestige of green will disappear from yards that were thickly +covered with rye. But the ducklings must be kept growing at all hazards, +and a vegetable supply must be procured from outside. + +[Illustration: WEST SIDE OF LANE.] + +Rye comes first in the season (I always cultivate it for the purpose, +and when coarse, it must be cut so that it can be readily eaten); then +grass; and next corn fodder, which is best of all. It is astonishing how +much of the latter these birds will consume--hundreds of pounds each +day. It should be cut very fine, not more than one-third of an inch in +length. Unlike the hen, the birds prefer the stalk to the leaf. Give +them all they will eat, once each day. [But we have forgotten that empty +machine. After the ducklings are taken out it will be found running at +85 to 90 degrees. I gauge it up to 102 and fill it with fresh eggs at +once, not forgetting to fill one tray in the little tender.] There is +one bad habit to which ducklings of four or five weeks old are addicted, +and that is feather eating. First the down will begin to disappear from +their backs; next, as the birds grow older, the quills which grow out +from the end of the wings will disappear, and they are all exposed for +tempting morsels. + +These quills bleed profusely when disturbed, which, of course, seriously +retards the growth and progress of the birds. This vice should be +checked at once, for vice it is,--superinduced by idleness and close +confinement. When the first indications of these troubles appear, the +attendant should watch the birds closely for a few moments, when the +aggressors can soon be detected. They should be removed at once and +confined by themselves, or placed in yards with older birds already +feathered out, which affords them no temptation to practice their newly +acquired art. + +If this is not done at once the vice becomes general, and disastrous +consequences are sure to follow. If it has already attained headway, +before the novice detects it, he must change them to new quarters; a +grassy area is best, where they usually forget all about it. This can be +readily done, as the operator should always have a spare roll of +eighteen-inch wire netting on hand with which he can enclose a given +area in a few moments. Too much cannot be said in favor of this wire, it +is so cheap, portable and convenient. It can be taken up and removed in +an incredibly short time to facilitate plowing and disinfecting the +yards. While it effectually separates the birds, it affords little or no +impediment to the attendant during the process of watering and feeding. +I fasten this wire up to short stakes driven in the ground, using small +staples for the purpose. When removed it can be rolled up, stakes and +all, without disturbing the staples. + +[Illustration: OUR TWENTY-FIVE HUNDRED BREEDING DUCKS. Kodak standing in +centre of yard.] + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration] + +It is then ready for resetting or stowing away for next season's work. +This wire is now the cheapest of all fencing for poultry work,--much +more so, even, than lath-fencing; and has the great advantage of being +portable and far more durable than any other material. Two-inch mesh, +No. 19 wire, can be had now for three-quarters cent a square foot by the +single roll, and proportionately cheaper by the quantity. Never purchase +No. 20 wire, as it will prove unsatisfactory in the end. It is not +self-supporting and can only be kept in position by boards, both above +and below. There is great difference in the quality of this wire; that +made by some firms being of so soft material that it will not stand +alone. The squares soon become ellipses, and your eighteen-inch wire +settles to a foot. The best I have ever used is that made by the Gilbert +& Bennett Manufacturing Company, Georgetown, Conn. + +Previous to this our oldest ducklings will have reached the extreme end +of the brooding-house, and it will be filled to its utmost capacity. In +order to make room for the successive hatches I drive the older hatches +out and round to my cold buildings, two in number. These buildings are +each seventy-five feet long, with contiguous yards one hundred feet +deep. The slides in the buildings are left open, and the ducklings are +at liberty to go out or in as they see fit,--a privilege of which they +avail themselves as the state of the atmosphere inclines. These yards +always have a thick mat of rye growing on them. The partition wires have +been set up and the young birds are quietly driven to their respective +quarters. + +After ducklings reach the age of six weeks, it is not necessary to +confine them in buildings during the night. Indeed, they are far better +not, unless it is extremely cold, or there is danger from vermin. Even +severe rainstorms will not injure them. They should be watched +carefully, however, as they are apt, during their antics, to fall over +on their backs, when, through suction from the wet and muddy ground, +they are seldom able to turn back again. Prompt assistance should be +rendered, or it will surely be too late, as the back of a duckling is +his most susceptible part. After the birds are six weeks old it will not +be necessary to feed more than three times per day, gradually +substituting meal for bran, until the birds are eight weeks old, when +their food should be, at least, three-quarters meal. There should also +be a steady increase of animal food after the seventh week. + + +Careful Watering Even More Essential Than Food. + +Particular care should be taken at this time to give the birds all they +need to drink, or your food will be thrown away, as they require more +water during the warm weather. They will consume and waste vast +quantities, and the water supply should be made as convenient as +possible, to facilitate the business. Our water is forced by a windmill +into a two hundred-barrel tank, and leads from there through pipes into +brooding and breeding houses, into the yards and mixing room,--all with +a view to saving labor and time. The water-pans in the buildings are +raised six or eight inches from the ground to prevent the birds getting +in or wasting the water. + +At this stage, during warm, dry spells, the dried excrement of the birds +will accumulate on the surface of the ground. This, as a matter of +economy, as well as a sanitary necessity, should be carefully swept up +before a rain, as the birds will sometimes drink water from the puddles +standing around, and it will often seriously affect their appetites, as +both yards and droppings are very offensive when wet. Shade is +absolutely necessary at this age during warm weather, as ducklings can +never be made in good condition when exposed to the sun during the +extreme heat of summer. It affects their appetites at once, reducing the +consumption of food by one-half. It is always well, if possible, to +locate your yards so that the birds can have access to shade. If not, +artificial shade must be constructed to meet the ends. + +My plan is to set up four stakes, about 6x10 feet, forming a +parallelogram. Sideboards should be nailed on these stakes about two +feet high. These can be covered with old boards, pine boughs, bushes, or +thatched over with meadow hay,--whatever is most convenient to the +grower. Great care should be taken in feeding by giving all the +concentrated food the birds can be made to eat, and no more, as the +largest of them will be ready for market when nine weeks old. Frighten +and excite the birds as little as possible while sorting them. The best +way to do this is to use a wide board some ten feet long, with two holes +cut in the upper side near the middle. These holes should be two feet +apart, and large enough to admit the hands for convenient handling. +Fifteen or twenty of the birds should be driven in a corner and confined +with this board. The birds should now be taken by the neck, one at a +time, the largest and choicest selected for market, the rejected ones +put in a temporary yard by themselves. + +[Illustration] + +This process should be repeated until the whole hatch is sorted, when +the culls can be returned to their old quarters. They will have a better +chance than before, and in a few days will be as good as the others. The +oldest hatches, which usually come out in February and March, are all +sent to market. The price is too high to save for breeders, but from +subsequent hatches, those that come out in April and May, we select our +breeding stock. + + +How to Select Breeding Stock. + +Even these birds will command a high price, but I cannot afford to wait +longer. I am very particular in this selection. The birds must not only +be of the largest size, but of the most perfect form. The contour of +head and neck, size and shape of bill, length and width of body, all are +taken into consideration. As a consequence, not more than one in ten +will be found to fill the bill, and my 2,500 breeding birds will be +selected from many thousands. The result of all this care and solicitude +on my part has been extremely gratifying, as it has not only given me +the control of the fancy market, but the birds have always commanded a +higher price in the general market on account of their large size and +fattening properties. + +As the ducklings are now ready for market, it is necessary that the +grower should make some arrangements for disposing of them. He cannot +afford to sell them alive to the carts, for though this may be a great +convenience to persons who grow a few fowls, the profits which enable +these parties to run their collecting carts all over the country, and +hire men to pick and dress their fowls, will be quite an item in the +pocket of the one who grows on a large scale. The best plan for him is +to hire an expert to do his picking for him, and if he cannot get one, +to take lessons of one so that he can do it himself. This is a very +particular business, as there is a great knack in it. Years ago I +thought I knew something about picking ducks, but after watching an +expert for thirty minutes I was enabled to double my day's work. + +[Illustration] + +This usually has the same effect upon others. For though it may be weeks +before the tyro will be able to do what would be called a fair day's +work, yet if he keeps his wits about him, and is endowed with a fair +share of energy, there will be constant improvement. I received a letter +a short time since from a lady in Ohio, saying that she was very much +interested in growing ducklings, and was satisfied that there was money +in it, but that her greatest trouble was in getting them picked, as it +cancelled a large share of the profits, and that she hired a woman for +the purpose and paid her twenty-five cents apiece for picking; at the +same time saying that she could not bear to pay the woman less, as it +took her a half day to pick one duck. + + +Method of Dressing Ducklings. + +A fair day's work for an expert is forty ducks per day, though I have +had men who could pick seventy-five and do it well. The process is very +simple. All that is necessary is a chair, a box 2x3 feet and 2 feet high +for the feathers, a few knives, and a smart man to handle them. One +knife should be double-edged and sharp-pointed, for bleeding. The bird +should be held between the knees, the bill held open with the left hand, +and a cut made across the roof of the mouth just below the eyes. The +bird should then be stunned by striking its head against a post, or some +hard substance. + +[Illustration] + +The picker seats himself in the chair, with the bird in his lap, its +head held firmly between one knee and the box. The sooner he gets at it +the better, and if he is smart he will have the bird well plucked by the +time life is extinct. The feathers should be carefully sorted while +picking; the wing and tail-feathers and pins thrown away and the body +feathers, with the down, thrown into the box. Care should be taken about +this, as the feathers are no mean source of income, and will always pay +for the picking. A dull knife should be used in connection with the +thumb in removing the long pins, and, in fact, all that can be removed +without tearing the skin. The down can usually be rubbed off by slightly +moistening the hand and holding the skin tight. As there are often some +pins which cannot be taken out without tearing and disfiguring the skin, +and some down that will not rub off, they must be shaved off. A knife +should be kept for the purpose. This knife should be made of the finest +oil-tempered steel, and must be sharper than the best razor. The tops of +the wings should be left on, and the bird picked half way down the neck. +The bird should not be drawn nor the head removed. All this is in +reality done in much shorter time than is required to describe it. The +expert performs his duties mechanically. The feathers actually seem to +stick to his fingers, and he will in seven minutes pick a duck in far +better shape than a novice would in an hour. The bird on being picked, +should, after the blood is washed carefully from the head, be thrown +into a barrel or tank of floating ice. It will harden up so that its +rotundity of outline will be preserved. + +This method is far better than that practiced by some parties, who pack +their birds in ice at once, where the bodies are compressed into all +manner of shapes and harden up in that position, and never again can +acquire that attractive appearance and rounded outline which a +well-fattened duckling should present. After the birds are hardened they +should be packed close in light boxes, back down, with the head under +the wing, and if your market is within twelve hours ride, can be safely +shipped without ice, and they will always arrive in good condition. +Dealers like to have them come in this way, they look so much nicer and +are far more saleable. + +I have boxes for the purpose, of different sizes, holding, when closely +packed, twelve, eighteen and thirty-six pairs of birds. These boxes are +light, made of five-eighth inch pine, are strongly cleated at the +corners and ends, and are fitted with hinged covers, fastened down with +clasps and screws. I find this much the best way, as the birds always +preserve their shape and arrive in good condition, while express +companies return the empty boxes free, and when they "get the hang of +it" soon learn to deliver promptly and handle carefully. + + +How to Ship Poultry. + +In shipping poultry the first thing the young poulterer should do is to +establish a reputation among the first-class dealers in his vicinity. +This can only be done by shipping first-class stock. Never kill a bird +unless it is in good condition. Pick and dress them neatly, box them +carefully, and they will always command a good price and a ready sale; +while equally as good stock, slovenly and carelessly thrown together, +will go begging. I have often seen good stock cut several cents per +pound, owing to the shipper's carelessness. + +A prominent dealer in Boston said to me one day, pointing to a barrel of +poultry, "The man who shipped that stuff is a fool! Look here!" He +opened the barrel,--it was half full of ducks fairly well fatted and +picked. But how those ducks looked. The shipper had evidently thrown +those birds in head first, or any way to suit, and then had thrown a lot +of ice on the top. The barrel not being very clean, he had introduced +blue paper between the ducks and barrel. The ice had melted, the barrel +had been capsized repeatedly during transit, and the paper had been +completely disintegrated. It was stuck all over the ducks in little +patches and rubbed in, while the birds had acquired a fine tint of blue +that would have done credit to a laundryman. + +"There," said the dealer, "I shall have to cut that man four cents per +pound." If occasionally you should have poor stock always ship it by +itself, and notify your dealer of its quality. He will know it soon +enough without you telling him, but, at the same time, he will know that +you are not trying to put a poor article on him for a good one. One or +two pairs of poor birds in a box of good ones will often affect the +price of the whole. Never pack a bird till after the animal heat is out. +By a close observance of the above, the time will soon come when you +will have no trouble in selling your stock. You will have more orders +than you will be able to fill. + +The past season has been a very satisfactory one to us, as we have not +only largely increased our business, but the prices obtained have been +better than ever before, while we have been overwhelmed with orders from +dealers in New York and Boston which we have been wholly unable to fill. + +But to return to the feathers. They should be taken up every day and +spread out thinly on a dry floor, turned occasionally, and, in a few +days, when thoroughly dry, can be thrown in a heap. Do not neglect this, +for if allowed to accumulate they soon become offensive, and nothing but +superheated steam will ever deordize them, and be sure that the feather +firms will always take advantage of this and charge you roundly for +doing it. + + +Disinfecting the Ground a Necessity. + +When we first begin shipping for market, our yards are usually filled to +their utmost capacity, and we are often crowded for room. As fast as the +yards are emptied, they should be disinfected by turning them and +sowing a crop of oats at once. By the time these oats are two or three +inches high they can be reoccupied by young birds, so that two crops can +be grown upon the same ground each season. + +My plan is this: I do not heat my brooding-house artificially after the +first of June, as the building will always be warm enough at that date +for ducklings ten days old, without artificial heat. I locate some of my +large duck-brooders a short distance apart out-of-doors, building a +square pen in front of them, 8x12 feet, with boards a foot wide. Into +these brooders I put the newly-hatched ducklings as they come out. They +need artificial heat the first few days. Of course it would be poor +policy to run the heater for the benefit of a few when it would be a +decided injury to thousands. + +When the ducklings no longer require heat, which will be in a very few +days, I remove them at once, either to the brooding-house or to the +vacated yards above mentioned, when by this time the oats will be high +enough to furnish them with green food. The business is managed in this +way as long as there are eggs to hatch. I use the eggs for incubating +long after I cease putting them out; for, if there is but one-third +fertile, it is more profitable to hatch them than to market them, as the +prices on young ducklings after the middle of October usually rule some +three or four cents higher per pound than during August and September. + +During the spring and summer months, when things are under full headway, +there is naturally great care and responsibility. It will not do to make +too many mistakes or neglect necessary duties. The young birds must be +fed regularly and given the differently prepared foods according to +age,--water supplied, grass and corn fodder cut and distributed +according to need. Lamps to trim and replenish, eight thousand eggs to +turn twice each day; a new hatch of ducklings coming off nearly every +day; the machine to be filled with nicely washed eggs; one to two +thousand pounds of ducklings dressed and packed for market daily; +cleaning and disinfecting yards; entertaining visitors, who flock here +by dozens,--furnish all the occupation we need. Indeed, were it not for +the immense profits attending the business, we might consider it rather +more than we ought to do. + +I disinfect my duck yards with rye about Sept. 1. When, in this climate, +frost has destroyed all green vegetable life, then rye is in its prime. +If sowed September 1, in duck yards, it will attain a height of eighteen +inches, and if sowed thickly will crop many tons to the acre. When +corn-fodder is gone, we use green clover, then turnip, cabbage and green +rye in turn and then just before a snow storm we cut a large quantity of +the frozen rye and pile it up in the shade, where, of course, it will +neither heat or thaw. Should we get out before the snow is gone, we +always have surplus of clover-rowen cured for the purpose. + +This, together with refuse cabbage and boiled turnips, small potatoes, +etc., makes a fine winter diet on which breeding ducks will always +thrive if the other ingredients are properly mixed,--a diet upon which, +combined with housing and plenty of exercise, the birds are bound to +contribute a good quota of strong fertile eggs. I mention this +particularly here, because the mortality among young birds will depend +largely upon the strength and vitality of the eggs from which they come. + + +Natural Duck-Culture. + +Doubtless some of my readers are getting impatient and saying to +themselves, "Why do you not give us some ideas how to do this business +in the natural way? Many of us wish to begin small. Every one has not +the conveniences to use or the means to command incubators." I am coming +to that. I have a vivid recollection of using hens to incubate with some +twenty years ago; and the persistent obstinacy of the perverse birds, +the large proportion of valuable eggs spoiled and broken, as well as the +time consumed in caring for them, are still fresh in my memory. It was +wholesome discipline for me. It will be the same to the reader, and +enable him to appreciate a good incubator later on. + +A good, quiet hen, who attends closely to her business, will always +hatch as large a proportion of her eggs as a good incubator; but there +are so many with dispositions quite the opposite of this that it leaves +the odds largely in favor of the machine. Success with hens depends +quite as much with the operator as with machines. He must begin right +and hold out to the end. As ducks seldom make good incubators, he will +have to rely upon hens to do that business for him. The best breeds for +that purpose I have found to be the Brahma or Plymouth Rock. A cross of +these birds makes a good quiet sitter. + +The birds must be got out early so that they will begin laying in the +fall and be ready to incubate by the time you want them. It is well to +have a room for the purpose and have the sitters by themselves. The +nests should be in rows around the room, the feeding and water-troughs +in the centre, with the dust-bath at one end. The nest boxes should be +some fourteen inches square and about a foot high. Each one should be +furnished with a slide so that the bird can be confined when necessary. +If the slide is planed, all the better, as the date of the sitter can +then be marked on it. The first thing is to prepare the nests. There is +quite a knack in this; indeed, success largely depends upon this one +thing. + +The best material for this is soft hay or straw, cut six or eight +inches long, placed upon a soil bottom. The sides of this nest should be +packed hard, the bottom smooth and slightly concaved, not too much, as +the tendency then would be to break the eggs if they crowded towards the +centre. There should be plenty of room in the nest for the bird's feet +and legs and the eggs too, so that she can turn at will without danger +of breaking them. A piece of tarred paper five or six inches square, +should be placed on the soil in the bottom of the nest; the whole +covered with a half inch of finely cut straw. A few porcelain eggs +should be placed in the nest, and when a hen shows a strong desire to +incubate she should be placed upon the nest and the slide closed, giving +the bird all the air she needs. + +This removal should be made after dark as the birds are always more +gentle then. It is well to set a number of hens at once, if they can be +had, for reasons that will shortly appear. If the birds take kindly to +the porcelain eggs they can be removed the next evening and replaced +with ducks' eggs. As they are much larger than hen's eggs, nine or ten +will be enough in cold weather and eleven or twelve in warm; +proportioned, of course, something to the size of the bird. I always +take the birds from their nests at a certain time every day; they will +learn to expect it. This should be done during the warmest part of the +day. + + +Handle Your Hens Carefully. + +Now is the time to exercise caution. Take your birds off carefully +several at a time. If one should fly in your face, break her eggs and +spatter the contents over your person, and you should feel like wringing +her neck, don't do it; you would only be so much out. Take things easy, +don't get mad; she may do better next time, if not, replace her with one +that will. When taking your birds off in cold weather cover the eggs at +once with a circular piece of heavy paper previously prepared, and they +will not cool perceptibly during the fifteen minutes the birds are off. +Be sure and return each bird to her own nest, for if you have an uneasy +sitter, though she may spoil her own eggs, she should have no +opportunity to spoil those of others. + +Besides, if you do not, hens that have been sitting but a day or two may +be placed upon eggs just ready to hatch when she will not take kindly to +the young birds as they hatch, and a great mortality is sure to follow. +If you should be running 100 sitters, the more you can take off at a +time the sooner you will get through. Have a sponge and warm water handy +as you will have more or less broken eggs. The rest should be washed +clean at once and returned to the nest. When hatching out be sure and +remove the little ducklings, as fast as they come out, to a warm place +to dry off, as owing to their long necks and peculiar shape the mother +hen will unconsciously crush many more of them than she would of chicks. +In fact, they should never see the hen after being taken away, as they +can be grown to much better advantage, and with far less mortality, in +brooders. + +And just here is the great economy of setting six or eight hens at the +same time; the young ducklings can be all put together in one brooder +and cared for with less trouble and with less mortality than that +resulting from one hen with her brood. The ducklings should be confined +in yards, the same care and feed given them as already recommended for +artificially hatched birds. Allusion has already been made to the +proverbial timidity of the Pekin duck. This sometimes causes trouble to +the grower when the birds are confined together in large numbers. When +six or eight weeks old, and even after they are full grown, they often +get frightened, or gallied as it were, in dark nights. Being unable to +see, one bird will touch another, he will spring away and come in +contact with several more. + +In an instant the whole are in the most violent commotion, whirling and +treading each other down. It will be a perfect stampede and will +sometimes be kept up the entire night. After a night of such dissipation +many of the birds will appear completely jaded out, and some of them +unable to rise. Of course, this must be stopped at once or the grower +may bid farewell to all fattening or laying on the part of the birds. +Hanging lanterns in the yards at stated distances will usually restore +order. It will not be needed when there is a moon. See that there are no +sharp projections in either yards or breeding-pens, as both old and +young birds are often lamed for life by simply coming in contact with +them in the night. + +Too much care cannot be exercised on this point, as the bones of the +birds are so small and their bodies so frail. As has been intimated +before, ducks are not subject to so many diseases as hens,--while they +are entirely free from lice or body parasites of any kind. Indeed, I +never saw a louse on a duck in all my experience. Still, it cannot be +denied that good sanitary conditions, together with plenty of pure air +and water, will not only greatly increase the egg-production, but +facilitate the growth and improve the properties of the duckling. + +Ducklings when confined to yards are sometimes troubled with sore eyes. +The adjacent parts become inflamed, the head slightly swelled. This is +caused by feeding sloppy food, and from filthy quarters. The feathers +around the eyes become filled with the food, the dust adheres to them. +The eye is naturally inflamed. Washing out thoroughly and bathing the +eye with a little sweet oil will usually effect a cure. + + +Diarrhoea. + +Young ducklings are sometimes afflicted with diarrhoea. This disease is +caused more by overheating brooders and the exhausted condition of the +mother bird than from improper food. Do not overfeed or overheat the +ducklings. Feed bread or cracker crumbs, moistened with boiled milk, +into which a little powdered chalk has been dusted. + + +Abnormal Livers. + +This disease is the most dangerous to which young ducks are subject. It +is seldom prevalent except during the warm weather, and usually in young +birds of from two to six weeks of age. The livers of the young birds +enlarge to such an extent as to force up their backs,--a deformity which +will cling to them through life. It is caused by a complete stagnation +of the digestive organs, and often makes its appearance after a heavy +rain, or long wet spell, when the yards are invariably wet, sloppy and +offensive. The young birds will, while in constant contact with this +mud, absorb more or less of it, clogging the digestive organs, and +deranging their appetites. Remove the birds to some dry, shady place, +feed sparingly, and give a little of the "Douglas mixture" in the +drinking water. + + +Ducklings must be Carefully Yarded While Young. + +A great mortality often occurs to young ducklings when allowed free +range during warm weather, from devouring injurious insects. Bees, +wasps, hornets, bugs of all descriptions, are eagerly swallowed alive +but not always with impunity, and the birds often pay the penalty with +their lives. Always confine them, even when designed for breeding +purposes, until they are six weeks old, when they can be allowed their +liberty. + +The most of the diseases to which ducks and fowls are subject can +usually be traced to some infraction of conditions, and of course are +always more or less under the control of the careful operator. Two young +men called here a short time ago wishing to know what was the trouble +with their fowls. Hitherto they had occupied a cold building, so open +that the snow sifted through on them, and they had never to their +recollection had a diseased fowl. Within a year they had put up a nice, +warm building with a glass front, and their fowls had been diseased ever +since. They had shut their birds in a building that would run up to 100 +degrees during the day and that would go down nearly to zero at night, +subjecting their fowls to thermal changes, under which neither animal or +vegetable life could possibly live, and then expect them to thrive. + +The amateur poulterer should understand in the beginning that it is far +easier to anticipate disease in poultry than to cure it. Where fowls are +kept in large numbers, their health and well-being can only be insured +by extreme care and cleanliness, together with a free use of +disinfectants. Buildings should be kept dry, clean and sweet, and not +too warm. The greater the variety of food the better, so long as it is +healthy and nutritious; while gravel, sand, shell and granulated +charcoal should be kept by them during confinement in winter. + +I am often asked by parties, "Why do so many would-be poulterers fail if +it is a legitimate business and fairly profitable?" I reply, I am not +prepared to concede the point that the proportional number of failures +in the poultry business is greater than among other vocations in life. +Hundreds of men fail every year in mercantile, manufacturing and +brokerage pursuits. People do not decry any legitimate business from +this cause, because they know there are hundreds who are not only +getting a livelihood, but are amassing fortunes at them. There are +hundreds, yes thousands, of farms on the market in New England today, +for less than the value of the buildings, because their owners have made +failures of them. Do men denounce agriculture? No! Because they know +that from time immemorial men have not only secured an honest living, +but have gained a competence from tilling the soil. You simply say that +it is the men. Why not be equally frank with the poultry business? + +They say the whole thing is contrary to nature, and you can't improve +upon nature. Can't we? That is just what man is placed upon this +sublunary sphere for, and he must begin by improving himself. With the +present opportunities for obtaining information, no one has a right to +remain ignorant because he begins by making a failure of himself; and +when a man has failed in the poultry business or elsewhere, it is simply +want of that indomitable pluck, energy, and perseverence, which are the +requisites of success everywhere, coupled with a disinclination to +sacrifice his comfort and ease, or conform his life to his business +requirements. + +Again, we hear that artificially grown fowls are stunted and small, the +flesh tasteless and insipid, and many other things which have no shadow +of truth in them. I append the testimonials of some of the largest +poultry dealers both in Boston and New York cities, who cheerfully and +voluntarily testify to the superiority of our artificially-grown birds. +These firms are square and honest dealers, and we heartily recommend +them to any who stand in need of their services. + +I have endeavored in this little book to impart what little knowledge I +possess on this important subject to the reader. If he can learn wisdom +by my experience and avoid the errors into which I fell, it is all I +ask. The business, as I have learned its details, has become more +profitable each year; while the experience of the past season has been +highly satisfactory, as the demand has been greater than ever before. + + + + +FORMULAS FOR FEEDING DUCKS. + + +For Breeding Birds. + +(Old and young, during the Fall.) + +We turn them out to pasture, when we can, in lots of 200. + +Feed three parts wheat-bran; one part low grade flour; one part corn +meal; five per cent. of beef-scrap; three per cent. of grit, and all the +green feed they will eat, in the shape of corn-fodder, cut fine, clover +or oat-fodder. Feed this mixture twice a day, all they will eat. + + +For Laying Birds. + +Equal parts of wheat-bran and corn meal; ten per cent. beef-scrap; +twenty per cent. of low grade flour; ten per cent. of boiled turnips or +potatoes; fifteen per cent. of clover-rowen, green rye or refuse +cabbage, chopped fine; three per cent. of grit. Feed twice a day, all +they will eat, with a lunch of corn and oats at noon. Keep grit and +ground oyster shells constantly by them. We never cook the food for our +ducks, but mix it with cold water. + + +For Feeding at Different Stages of Growth. + +The first four days, feed four parts wheat-bran; one part corn-meal; one +part low grade flour; five per cent. fine grit. Feed four times a day, +what they will eat clean. + +When from four days to four weeks old, feed four parts wheat-bran; one +part corn-meal; one part low-grade flour; three per cent. fine grit; +five per cent. of fine ground beef-scrap, soaked. Finely cut green +clover, rye or cabbage. Feed four times a day. + +When from four to eight weeks old, feed three parts wheat-bran; one part +corn-meal; one part low-grade flour; five per cent. of fine grit; five +per cent. of beef-scrap. Mix in green food. One per cent. fine oyster +shells. Feed four times a day. + +When from six to eight weeks old, feed equal parts corn-meal; wheat-bran +and fifteen per cent. low grade flour; ten per cent. of beef-scrap; ten +per cent. of green food; three per cent. of grit. Feed three times a +day. + +When from eight to ten weeks old, feed one half corn-meal; equal parts +of wheat-bran and low grade flour; ten per cent. of beef-scrap; three +per cent. of grit. Oyster shells and less green food. Feed three times a +day. They should now be ready for market. + +Note.--The above ingredients should be made into a mash, and should be +crumbly, not pasty. Proportions by measure, not weight. + + + + +QUESTION BUREAU. + + +QUESTION 1.--Why do my ducks not lay? I feed them all the corn they will +eat. + +ANSWER.--Ducks will not lay on hard grain alone. They should have a mash +composed of equal parts wheat-bran, corn-meal, and twenty per cent. low +grade flour, with about one-quarter green food and vegetables; ten per +cent. of beef-scrap, with grit and oyster shells. + +QUESTION 2.--My ducklings are weak in the legs, cannot stand, and soon +die. What is the matter? + +ANSWER.--Your trouble is too highly concentrated food and too much of +it. Feed on mash composed largely of wheat-bran, low-grade flour and +about fifteen per cent. of corn-meal. Mix in plenty of green food, as +green rye, clover, corn-fodder, etc. Ten per cent. of ground beef-scrap, +or other animal food; five per cent. of coarse sand. This diet is +absolutely necessary to properly develop the bird and form flesh, bone +and feathers. Feed sparingly. This is essential, as it invites exercise, +which is much needed during close confinement in inclement weather. + +QUESTION 3.--My ducklings are troubled with sore eyes and do not seem to +thrive, what can I do for them? + +ANSWER.--This disease savors of filthy quarters, and yet it is not +always attributed to that. Improper assimilation of food through want of +grit and other ingredients will have a tendency in the same direction. A +gummy secretion exudes from the eyes, hardening up among the feathers +around them, seriously retarding the growth and development of the bird. +Feed sparingly of light food with plenty of grit, and sprinkle a little +ginger in their food. Remove the bird to clean quarters and a few days +will usually effect a cure. + +QUESTION 4.--I am losing my ducklings from diarrhoea. Have but twenty +left out of eighty, and they are not ten days old. Please counsel me? + +ANSWER.--This disease may have several causes, though I am convinced +that the food has but little to do with it. It may originate through the +degenerate condition of the parent bird, and consequent want of vitality +in the egg from which the little bird comes out in no shape to live; or +from the extremes of heat and cold to which the eggs have been subjected +during the process of incubation; or from the same cause after the +little duckling has been placed in the brooder. I am convinced that with +a careful selection of the proper ingredients in feeding the old bird, +and a reasonable control of the heat in the incubator and brooder (if +they are good ones), there need be but little apprehension from this +disease. + +QUESTION 5.--My breeding birds have the gapes. They stretch their necks +and gape, eat nothing, and die in a few days. Can you diagnose the case +and help me? + +ANSWER.--This is undoubtedly a lung trouble, for on dissecting the +birds, I have always found the lungs not only highly inflamed but nearly +gone. For years I had supposed this disease incurable, and incidental to +bird and clime, but later experience has convinced me that it is not +only largely under control but easily anticipated. First, I never knew a +case in summer or early spring, when the birds were not confined to +buildings but had free and open range, and only when confined during +inclement weather, so that it is more or less a denizen of foul air and +filthy quarters. + +I would much rather have my breeding houses freeze a little than to have +them filled with foetid air, and the birds breathe over and over again +the ammonia arising from their own excrements. It is one thing for the +birds to be confined over their own ordure, their nostrils but a few +inches from it, but quite another with the attendant in the walk with +his nose six feet away. He may think his buildings quite clean and free +from noxious gases, but could his ducks speak they would tell him a +different story. This disease, if taken in the early stages, can usually +be cured. Isolate the bird with the first appearance of trouble, in a +warm, dry place. Feed on food formula for little ducklings. Mix a little +cayenne pepper in the food, a little Douglas Mixture in the drinking +water, and a large proportion of the affected birds may be saved. Keep +your breeding birds dry and clean when confined. + +QUESTION 6.--I turned my ducklings out in a grass plot today and have +lost nearly one-third of them. What is the cause? + +ANSWER.--This may result from two causes. Ducklings from two to four +weeks old are ravenous birds and will devour all manner of insects +within their reach, which they do not stop to kill. Bees, wasps, hornets +and beetles of all descriptions are acceptable, and the little birds, +themselves, often pay the penalty with their lives. Again, at that age, +they are extremely sensitive to the heat of the sun, and they must have +shade. Years ago, we sometimes lost twenty birds out of a hundred in +thirty minutes, before we knew the cause. + +QUESTION 7.--How many birds should constitute a breeding-yard? + +ANSWER.--Twenty-five is enough unless the birds have free range, then +fifty may run together with safety. + +QUESTION 8.--How shall I proportion the sexes for the best results? + +ANSWER.--Five ducks to one drake. Later in the season, six or eight +ducks to one drake. + +QUESTION 9.--How can I distinguish the sexes? + +ANSWER.--It is easy for the expert to detect the sex of the bird when +very young. The drake has a longer bill, neck and body, with a more +upright carriage. At two months old the duck may be distinguished by her +coarse quack, the drake by a fine, rasping noise, and later on by the +curled feathers in his tail. + +QUESTION 10.--How soon will a young duck begin laying? + +ANSWER.--At about five months old, often at four and a half months old. +At present, September 1st, we are getting some three dozen eggs per day +from our young birds, and we are trying to hold them back all we can by +light feeding. + +QUESTION 11.--Which will lay first, old or young birds? + +ANSWER.--Young birds will usually lay from two to three weeks before the +old ones, but as the first eggs of the old birds are usually more +fertile than eggs from the young ones, there is very little discrepancy +in the result. + +QUESTION 12.--How many eggs will a Pekin duck lay in a season? + +ANSWER.--About one hundred and forty. Their fecundity is wonderful, +excelling that of any other duck. We have birds in some yards with a +record of one hundred and sixty-five eggs to each bird. + +QUESTION 13.--To what age is it profitable to keep a duck? + +ANSWER.--We have kept them till four years old with good results. If not +forced they may be kept longer to advantage. + +QUESTION 14.--Is there a market for their eggs, and at what price? + +ANSWER.--Pekin duck eggs sell readily in market, as they are much larger +than the other duck eggs. They command from five to ten cents per dozen +more than hen's eggs. + +QUESTION 15.--How much does it cost to keep a duck each season? + +ANSWER.--From $1.75 to $2.00. They are gross feeders, of bulky food, but +the greater number and value of the eggs in market over the average hen, +makes the duck more profitable as an egg-producer than the hen. + +QUESTION 16.--At what season are the eggs of a duck most fertile? + +ANSWER.--During the months of February, March, April and May, though +they are usually fertile with us during January, June, and even July. + +QUESTION 17.--What per cent. of the eggs will usually hatch? + +ANSWER.--That depends entirely upon how the mother-bird is cared for and +fed. See formula for laying birds. + +QUESTION 18.--What is the average loss sustained in growing ducklings? + +ANSWER.--Not more than two per cent. with us, but it depends largely +upon how the old birds are fed; how the eggs are incubated, and the +young birds cared for. + +QUESTION 19.--How many birds can be safely kept in one brooder and one +yard? + +ANSWER.--About one hundred, and as they grow older, unless the yards are +of good size, a less number would grow and fat better. + +QUESTION 20.--At what age should the young birds be put upon the market? + +ANSWER.--When the prices are very high in the early spring we market +them at about nine weeks old, when they will dress from ten to eleven +pounds per pair. Later on, when prices are lower, we market them at ten +to eleven weeks old, when they will dress from twelve to thirteen +pounds per pair. + +QUESTION 21.--When and how do you select your breeding birds? + +ANSWER.--As soon as we can distinguish the quality and merits of the +bird, and from our earliest hatches, as they always develop into larger +and better birds. + +QUESTION 22.--How do you treat the young birds for breeding purposes? + +ANSWER.--Turn them out to pasture, and feed lightly on food calculated +to develop bone, muscle and feathers. + +QUESTION 23.--What shall I do to keep my ducks still in the night, when +they make a great noise and commotion? Some of them are broken down and +cannot stand. + +ANSWER.--Hang a lantern in their yard. You must keep them still. + +QUESTION 24.--Can ducks be shipped safely any distance? + +ANSWER.--We ship ducks safely all over the United States, Canada and +Europe. + +QUESTION 25.--Would you recommend incubator or hens for hatching duck's +eggs? + +ANSWER.--Incubator, by all means, if hatched in large quantities. + +QUESTION 26.--Would you use brooders, if hatched under hens? + +ANSWER.--Brooders are better than hens, for two reasons. It is less +trouble to care for them. Hens crush large numbers of them when small. + +QUESTION 27.--How long can the eggs be kept for hatching? + +ANSWER.--They can be kept three weeks, safely, if kept on end, in a cool +place, but should prefer them fresher. + +QUESTION 28.--Can Pekin ducks be crossed with other breeds profitably? + +ANSWER.--From our experience, we can say no. In every case it has +required longer time to mature the mongrels, and as the prices decline +in the early spring, this is quite an item, besides the introduction of +colored feathers injures the appearance of the dressed bird, as well as +the quality of the feathers, which is also quite an item. + +QUESTION 29.--What is the price of duck's feathers in the market? + +ANSWER.--Formerly, white duck feathers commanded fifty cents per pound, +but since white feathers have been imported from Russia in such +quantities, ours average about forty-five cents per pound. + +QUESTION 30.--What makes their wings turn out from their bodies? + +ANSWER.--This is often caused by the rapid development of the bird. The +resting feathers on the sides under the wings, do not keep pace with the +rapid growth of the bird, and the constant efforts of the bird to keep +the wings in place, tends to turn the wings outward. We have always +noticed that these are invariably the best birds. + +QUESTION 31.--Which are the most profitable, ducks or chickens? + +ANSWER.--This will depend upon whether the grower is a care-taker, or +whether he is careless, lazy or untidy. We think that ducks will bear +more neglect than chicks, but it will not do to presume upon that, as +ducks will not thrive in filth more than chicks. We think that the +average price of chicks in market is rather higher than that of ducks, +but as it costs at least two cents less per pound to produce duck flesh, +than that of the chick, there is very little difference. + +QUESTION 32.--Where are the best markets for ducks? + +ANSWER.--Good markets may be found in all of our large cities, though we +think New York and Boston the best. Sometimes, when large shipments +produce a glut in the New York markets, the surplus is shipped to +Boston, where it may be a cent or two higher. Then in a few days things +may be reversed and the exodus be the other way, and as the freight is +only one-half cent per pound between the two cities, I have known tons +to be shipped at a time. + +QUESTION 33.--What would a plant cost, with a capacity of 5,000 +ducklings, per year? + +ANSWER.--With good machines, and buildings barely practical, $1,500 (if +economically expended) would cover cost, independent of land. + +QUESTION 34.--What effect does extremes of heat and cold have upon young +ducklings? + +ANSWER.--After they are a week old they will stand much more of either +than chicks. + +QUESTION 35.--Is the flesh of birds artificially grown, as good as that +grown in the natural manner? + +ANSWER.--Just as good. The quality of the flesh depends entirely upon +the care and feed given the birds. + +QUESTION 36.--How large should the yards be in which the breeding birds +are kept? + +ANSWER.--At least one hundred feet long, where the buildings are long, +and the width of the pens in which the birds are housed. + +QUESTION 37.--Do you think it will pay to grow celery to flavor the +flesh of the birds? + +ANSWER.--We have never done so, and parties who have grown celery for +that purpose, have discontinued it as being unprofitable in the end, as +they were not able to obtain increased prices for their product. + +QUESTION 38.--What is the best green food for ducks, old and young? + +ANSWER.--Green clover, green corn-fodder, rye, oats and clover-rowen +cured nicely, with green rye, in winter when ground is bare. + +QUESTION 39.--Should Pekin duck eggs be pure white? + +ANSWER.--Yes. + +QUESTION 40.--Should a pure bred Pekin have any black feathers? + +ANSWER.--No. The feathers should be a creamy white. Dark feathers are a +sign of mongrel stock. + +QUESTION 41.--Will rain injure young ducklings? + +ANSWER.--They are as susceptible to rain as chicks up to three weeks of +age, but after that, will endure more, and at eight or ten weeks old, +will really enjoy a good rain storm. + +QUESTION 42.--How large do Pekin ducks grow? + +ANSWER.--We have had drakes to tip the scales at 13 pounds each, though +this is somewhat rare. The past season, one of our drakes weighed 9-1/2 +pounds, dressed, at 10 weeks old. + +QUESTION 43.--What is the weight of Pekin duck eggs? + +ANSWER.--In the height of the season, ours weigh about 3 pounds to the +dozen. + +QUESTION 44.--Is wet, marshy land suitable for ducks? + +ANSWER.--Should prefer dry land contiguous to a stream or pond. + +QUESTION 45.--How many duck eggs should be placed under one hen? + +ANSWER.--From nine to eleven, depending upon the size of the hen. + +QUESTION 46.--How long does it require to incubate duck eggs? + +ANSWER.--Pekin eggs twenty-seven days. Muscovy eggs thirty-two days, +same as geese. + +QUESTION 47.--Do Pekin ducks sit well on eggs? + +ANSWER.--No. They are unreliable. Hens are better. A good incubator +still better. + +QUESTION 48.--If you were a young man, with the same experience you have +now, would you enter the poultry business? + +ANSWER.--I certainly would, for two reasons. First, because it is a +congenial occupation to me; second, it is by far the most profitable of +any branch of farm industry. + +QUESTION 49.--Who is the best commission dealer in Boston market to whom +I could consign my product? + +ANSWER.--We consider Adams and Chapman, North Market St., safe and +reliable, and a first-class firm in every respect. + +QUESTION 50.--Who is the best retail dealer? + +ANSWER.--We consider Nathan Robbins Co., Quincy Market, as A-1. They +have handled a large part of our product for many years, and we would +heartily recommend them. + + + + +Our Imperial Pekin Ducks. + + +We run one of the largest duck farms in America; and the birds in our +breeding pens are the very choicest, carefully selected, from the +thousands we raise, and are all bred from our premium yards. We feel +justly proud of our birds; for not only have they won all the premiums +at New England State Fairs, but throughout the West, South and Canada. +Our birds cannot be duplicated in North America. We confidently +challenge competition; and, strange to say, the birds in our yards are +now far superior to our best imported birds. They thrive better on our +feed and in our climate than in that in which they originated. The +Boston and New York marketmen have repeatedly assured us that our ducks +are the best that come into the market, and as a natural consequence we +have not been able to fill our orders for market ducks. Our birds have +dressed, on an average, the past season, twelve pounds per pair, at nine +and ten weeks old. We have now 2,500 of these mammoth birds in our +breeding pens, and we are prepared to fill all orders for both birds and +eggs at reasonable prices. + +Our young birds commence laying at five months old, lay through the fall +months, moult slightly during the first of December, and about the +middle of December begin again. The average number of eggs laid by our +ducks we find, after careful computation, to be about 140 each +year--more than our best hens. Our birds and eggs have given universal +satisfaction wherever they have gone; and we have numerous letters from +our patrons, expressing themselves as more than satisfied with their +bargains. + +Our prices range as follows: + + Per pair, according to size and quality, from $4.00 to $6.00 + Per trio, according to size and quality, from 6.00 to 9.00 + Exhibition birds, each $5.00, or 10.00 per pair + Eggs from our choice yards, per setting of 15 2.00 + Eggs from our " per two settings 3.50 + Eggs from our " per fifty 5.00 + Eggs from our " per hundred 8.00 + Eggs from our " per thousand 70.00 + + The above prices may seem large to some, but when it is known that + many of the birds we now offer for sale were worth June 1st, $1.50 + each in the market, and that we have kept them for the last six + months at a cost of not less than fifty cents each, it is easy to + see that the profits are not large. Our maximum price for market + birds the present season was thirty cents per pound; the minimum, + eighteen cents. + + Our ducks are all hatched and raised artificially, and are put upon + the market at a cost not exceeding six cents per pound. + + + + +TESTIMONIALS. + + +PEKIN DUCKS. + +NILES, Ohio, Oct. 28, 1905. + +MR. JAMES RANKIN, South Easton, Mass.: + +Dear Sir-- + +The ducks arrived safely and prompt, and I thank you very much for +sending such fine large ducks--why they are more like geese as far as +size. I also thank you for the prompt attention given my order. + +The poor little duck I kept of the ones raised by me this year looks +very small--only about one-third the size of those received from you, +and I thought her quite a respectable size before. I've long wanted some +of your ducks, and I'm very much pleased with them. + +Wishing you greater success, I remain, + +Respectfully yours, CLARA G. CARATU. + +R. F. D. 1, Niles, Ohio. + + * * * * * + +RUSLERSTOWN, Md., Sept. 21, 1905. + +MR. JAS. RANKIN, South Easton, Mass.: + +Dear Sir-- + +I beg to advise that the ducks have been received, and with them I am +very much pleased. Am building a home for them in accordance with your +plans, and when it is completed I shall want more ducks. + +Yours very truly, H. D. OWEN. + + * * * * * + +CAMBRIDGE SPRINGS, Pa., Sept. 18, 1905. + +Dear Sir-- + +Received the ducks all right. Am well pleased with them. + +Yours truly, M. F. TRAINER. + + * * * * * + +MT. HOLLY, Sept. 28, 1905. + +Dear Sir-- + +I received the ducks today, and I am well satisfied with them. Thanking +you for your promptness, I remain + +JEREMIAH DONOVAN. + +R. F. D. No. 1. + + * * * * * + +TRADESMEN'S NATIONAL BANK. + +The United States Depository of Pittsburgh. + +May 20, 1905. + +MR. JAMES RANKIN, South Easton, Mass.: + +Dear Sir-- + +The four (4) ducks you sent me arrived on the 16th, and I want to thank +you for so promptly and satisfactorily filling my order. I am very +highly pleased with them. Sincerely yours, + +T. B. BARNES. + + * * * * * + +WHITE PLAINS, Md., Mar. 27, 1905. + +MR. JAMES RANKIN: + +Dear Sir-- + +We are pleased to say that duck eggs arrived safe, only four broken. We +tested them and got 96 per cent. fertile. Very good. Thanks for +promptness. May send for another 100 soon. + +Yours very respectfully, GOUGH BROS. & CO. + + * * * * * + +BALTIMORE, Md., Saturday, Jan. 1905. + +MR. RANKIN: + +The duck arrived safely yesterday. Very many thanks. She is a lovely +large bird. + +MRS. E. C. ROBINSON. + +"Elgin." + + * * * * * + +BROOKLYN, N. Y., May 3, 1904. + +MR. JAMES RANKIN: + +Dear Sir-- + +The Pekin duck eggs you shipped me arrived safely, not one broken. Would +have written sooner, but waited to see result of the hatch. I have ten +little beauties. Should have had thirteen, but the chicken crushed +three, two were unfertile. But I am very well pleased. Thank you for +such fair treatment. + +Wishing you every success, yours sincerely, + +B. NICKLAUS. + +Vienna Ave. and Barby St. + + * * * * * + +ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Mass., Jan. 17, 1905. + +MR. JAMES RANKIN: + +Dear Sir-- + +Received the drake and ducks all right, and I must in candor tell you +how pleased my wife and daughter were with them. I have two ducks I was +told were your strain, but they are eclipsed by those you sent me. I +hope later on, I may send for more, as I am highly pleased with them. + +Yours respectfully, R. PARK. + + * * * * * + +COMMON PLEAS COURT, + +10th District. + +BUCYRUS, Ohio, May 7, 1904. + +MR. JAMES RANKIN, South Easton, Mass.: + +Dear Sir-- + +We received the ducks and they are good in every respect, and beside +Mr. ----, make his look like culls. If he sends the same kind to every +person, he is certainly a detriment to the business. He excused himself +by saying that he was away from home; then he retains incompetent help. +No criticism whatever can be made of your selection, and the ducks you +sent us are as good as your reputation, and the latter is the best in +this part of the country. + +We shall probably want a few show birds this fall, and will write you +later. Yours truly, JAMES C. TOBIAS. + + * * * * * + +OWOSSO, Mich., Oct. 21, 1904. + +JAMES RANKIN, So. Easton, Mass.: + +Dear Sir-- + +I overlooked writing you in regard to the drakes. The first lot arrived +nicely, except two. One seemed to be quite badly lamed, and the other a +little. We took them out immediately on arrival, and the one that was +slightly lamed has come out all right. The other fellow died. Probably +got hard usage somewhere on the road. The lot right through was a very +nice lot. + +The second lot arrived in fine condition, and the two lots together are +entirely satisfactory every way. Do not see how any one could ask for +anything nicer. + +The hundred we had from you last year were equally as good, however, in +fact, can see no difference. Either the drakes or the ducks ought to be +satisfactory to any reasonable person. + +Yours truly, E. F. DUDLEY. + + * * * * * + +GLEN WILD P. O., Sullivan Co., 1904. + +MR. JAMES RANKIN: + +Dear Sir-- + +The trio of Pekin Ducks arrived safe on Monday, Oct. 3d. They are +exactly as represented. I like them very much. They seem to be very tame +and easy to get along with. + +Very truly, (Mrs.) EDGAR KETCHAM. + + * * * * * + +U. S. S. "Forward.," KEY WEST, Fla., May 23, 1904. + +MR. J. RANKIN, South Easton, Mass.: + +Dear Sir-- + +Sitting of eggs duly received last month. Got now ten lively ducklings, +had eleven, but one got killed. Thanking you for prompt attention, I +remain, Very truly yours, + +GEO. SCHOPFER. + + * * * * * + +HILL CITY, South Dakota, June 11, 1904. + +MR. RANKIN: + +I received ducks O. K. My other ducks are laying fine. They are all fine +ones; although they cost me $4.92 1-2 apiece I would not take the money +back for them. + +G. W. WALLACE. + + * * * * * + +PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE, Manitoba, Nov. 3, 1904. + +MR. JAMES RANKIN, South Easton, Mass.: + +Dear Sir-- + +I am very much pleased with the ducks you sent me, they are the finest +pair I ever saw. The people here say they are like geese. Thank you for +the splendid selection you made for me. + +GEO. E. STACEY. + + * * * * * + +NORTH DETROIT, Mich., R. F. D. No. 2, Jan. 9, 1905. + +MR. JAMES RANKIN: + +Dear Sir-- + +The ducks arrived safe Saturday evening, Jan. 7, in good condition. I am +very much pleased with your selection. They are certainly two fine +birds. I remain, Yours truly, + +CHAS. GLARBON. + + * * * * * + +MORRIS, Ill., Jan. 24, 1905. + +MR. JAMES RANKIN: + +Dear Sir-- + +The ducks arrived in good condition, and they are the largest ducks I +have ever seen. Thank you for your satisfactory shipment. + +Yours truly, L. L. NESS. + + * * * * * + +EAST BERLIN, Conn., March 29, 1905. + +MR. RANKIN: + +I received the duck eggs this afternoon in fine order, and I am +delighted with them. They are beautiful eggs, and I feel sure of a good +hatching. I only expected nine, as my friends all told me that nine was +a sitting. I am more than pleased to receive 15. I will let you know how +many birds I get later. + +Yours with many thanks, + +Mrs. S. McCRUM. + + * * * * * + +MONROE, N. Y., June 6, 1904. + +MR. RANKIN: + +Dear Sir-- + +Excuse me for not writing to you sooner. I have been so busy that I have +not taken the time, but I received the duck eggs in due time, also the +little book, for which I thank you very much. Received 15 eggs, more +than I expected for a sitting. Two were cracked, as the basket looked as +if it had been handled roughly by the Express Co. Out of the thirteen +(13) remainder, were hatched eleven ducks, but the hen killed two of +them on the nest. That left nine (9) fine little ducks, which are all +alive at present and doing nicely--the largest I ever saw for their age. +They are now but ten days old, but I would not take five dollars for +them, as they look as if they were going to make fine big fellows. I +don't mind buying eggs from a man like you, as you are sure to get your +money's worth. Wishing you a prosperous season, + +CHAS. G. REINHARDT. + + * * * * * + +ELWOOD, Ind., Jan. 13, 1905. + +MR. JAMES RANKIN: + +Dear Sir-- + +The trio of Pekin ducks received in good condition. Am well pleased. +Also the book on "Duck Culture" received and read, which was much +enjoyed. Learned many new points in duck raising. Thanking you, I am + +Yours respectfully, + +Mrs. A. T. COX. + + * * * * * + +ELKTON, Md., Jan. 9, 1905. + +MR. JAMES RANKIN: + +Dear Sir-- + +Received ducks yesterday in good condition, and I am pleased with them. +Can you let me have two more ducks at same price and as nice as these? +If so, let me hear from you, and oblige, + +Yours respectfully, Mrs. J. B. CONNER. + + * * * * * + +EAST BERLIN, Ct., May 4, 1905. + +MR. RANKIN: + +Dear Sir-- + +I want to tell you how delighted I am with my little ducks. I had 13 out +of 15 eggs. Only one egg that was bad, as there was one duckling in the +egg, but was not strong enough to come out. But I am more than pleased +with my 13. I feel sure they will grow to be fine, large ducks. Yours +respectfully, + +Mrs. S. McCRUM. + + * * * * * + +ROCKAWAY, N. J., Jan. 9, 1905. + +MR. JAMES RANKIN: + +Dear Sir-- + +The two ducks and a drake you shipped me arrived in good condition. They +are the finest birds of their class I ever saw. Different people who +have examined them say they are the biggest and best ducks they ever +looked at. + +Yours resptfully + +GEORGE S. STONE. + +Morris County. + + * * * * * + +LYNBROOK, Long Island, Oct. 16, 1905. + +MR. J. RANKIN: + +Sir-- + +The drake and duck arrived on Friday, P.M. in the very finest of shape. +Thanking you for the selection you made for me, I remain, + +Respectfully, W. H. YOUNG. + + * * * * * + +30 Bernard St., EAST ORANGE, N. J., Oct. 18, 1905. + +JAMES RANKIN, Esq., South Easton, Mass.: + +Dear Sir-- + +Your shipment of one duck and one drake came to hand today, and they are +a fine pair of birds. Thanks for your promptness in this matter. + +Yours truly, CHAS. H. WARING. + + * * * * * + +SUFFOLK, Va., June 2d, 1905. + +MR. JAS. RANKIN, South Easton, Mass.: + +Dear Sir-- + +Just as the ducks came to hand I was called away from home, hence the +delay in acknowledging receipt of them. They arrived safe and well, and +it is but due to you to say, in size and beauty they exceeded my most +sanguine expectations. They are indeed handsome birds. Many persons who +saw them took them to be geese. I thank you for your promptness in +filling my order, etc. + +Yours truly, V. S. KILBY. + +I. W. Morgan, Sr., + +Sec'y-Treas. + + * * * * * + +THE BOARD OF EDUCATION + +of the Town of Port Arthur. + +PORT ARTHUR, ONT., Aug. 30, 1905. + +JAMES RANKIN, Esq., South Easton, Mass.: + +Dear Sir-- + +The drake and two ducks you shipped to me on the 26th inst. arrived this +evening, and are apparently in very good "trim" after their four days' +journey. They are the finest looking ducks I ever saw and I have seen +many thousands. I am more than pleased with them. Thanking you for your +prompt and fair dealing with me + +I am sincerely yours, J. W. MORGAN, Sr., + +Port Arthur, Ont., Canada. + + * * * * * + +COMMISSION HOUSE OF W. H. RUDD & SON, + +No. 10 Merchants' Row, Boston. + +Friend Rankin--With the exception of yourself, we doubtless hatch and +raise more poultry, by actual count, than any one on this continent. We +do it entirely by artificial means, and shall never employ any other so +long as we raise poultry at all and retain our senses. + +At our headquarters, in Boston, we receive and handle, to say the very +least, as many market ducks as any firm in the city, and unless we are +dull scholars, we ought to form a pretty accurate opinion of the +relative merits of natural and artificial methods of incubation; or +perhaps better expressed, the comparative quality of poultry raised by +each, whether designed for market or other purposes. We were looking +over our breeding stock the other day, and certainly never saw so +handsome a lot for so large numbers, and we should have to travel as far +as South Easton to find as fine a flock of ducks. + +The best market ducks that reach Boston (present company excepted, of +course), are sent there by yourself and your brother, William Rankin of +Brockton; not only are they two or three weeks in advance of others, but +being grown with so great rapidity gives them that fineness and firmness +of flesh, a superior flavor, and excellence in general appearance which +cannot be found--or at least never is found--in ducks raised in the +natural way, and which must necessarily be kept much longer to attain +the same height. + +We could refer you to the proprietors of five of the leading hotels in +the city, who state that the artificially-hatched ducks furnished by us +during the last few years are by far the best they ever used, and that +since the raising of ducks had thus been reduced to a science, fully +twice as many as formerly are now daily called for by the guests, and +consequently the demand is correspondingly increased, and we predict it +will continue to increase indefinitely. Your ducks sell quicker and +bring more per pound than any we get. Next come those raised and sent by +Mr. Carpenter and Mr. Otis, both, like ourselves, using your machines. + +By the way, we have now secured Mr. Otis for our superintendent at the +Brighton farm, and his well-known skill and experience, combined with +our own, will render it necessary for you to keep your eye peeled and +look to your laurels, lest you find yourself playing second fiddle. +Fraternally and very truly, + +W. H. RUDD & SON. + + * * * * * + + +What the Boston Marketmen Say About Our Ducks. + +BOSTON, Aug. 8, 1898. + +The ducks we received from Maple Farm Duck Yards are the largest and +best we find in the market. + +NATHAN ROBBINS CO. + + * * * * * + +BOSTON, Aug. 6, 1898. + +We give the preference to ducks shipped us from Maple Farm Duck Yards +over all others, as we consider them the largest and fattest on the +market. We readily pay a higher price for them. + +B. S. COLE. + + * * * * * + +BOSTON, Aug. 9, 1898. + +We have handled ducks from Mr. Rankin's duck yards for many years, and +find them superior in size and condition to all others, and readily +command a higher price. + +NATHAN A. FITCH. + + * * * * * + +BOSTON, Aug. 8, 1898. + +We willingly pay a higher price for ducks shipped to us from Maple Farm +Duck Yards, as we consider them the best on the market. + +GEO. W. KIMBALL & CO. + + * * * * * + +BOSTON, Aug. 5, 1898. + +We willingly acknowledge that the ducks received from J. Rankin's duck +yards not only command the highest price, but are largest and finest +that come into Boston market, and handle no others when we can get +those. + +WILLIAM H. JONES & CO. + + * * * * * + +BOSTON, Aug. 6, 1898. + +We certify that the ducks shipped us from Maple Farm Duck Yards are the +largest and best we have handled. H. L. LAWRENCE & CO. + + * * * * * + +COLUMBIA STA., O., Sept. 15, 1897. + +MR. JAMES RANKIN: + +Dear Sir-- + +I received the pair of Pekin Ducks you sent me in good condition. People +at the station thought they were geese. Am well pleased with them; will +write you later. Yours very truly, + +THERON D. GOODWIN. + + * * * * * + +LACEYVILLE, Pa., Sept. 1, 1897. + +MR. JAMES RANKIN: + +Dear Sir-- + +The ducks arrived here safely Saturday morning. I was more than pleased +with them. I have about one hundred ducks which I thought were large and +were the admiration of all who saw them, but the ones from you beat +anything I ever saw. Quite a number asked me what I was going to do with +the geese, and could hardly believe they were ducks. When in want of any +more ducks will send direct to you. + +Yours truly, W. E. SHOEMAKER. + + * * * * * + +BURLINGTON, Vt., Aug. 24, 1897. + +MR. JAMES RANKIN: + +Dear Sir-- + +Drake came today, and is very satisfactory. + +Hastily, ROBERT H. WILSON. + + * * * * * + +BAY CITY, Mich., July 7, 1897. + +MR. JAMES RANKIN: + +Dear Sir-- + +The eggs received in good order. Had a nice hatch of ten strong ducks; +one dead in shell, have not lost one of the ten; am well pleased and +satisfied. + +Truly yours, W. P. LATLIN. + + * * * * * + +ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 27, 1897. + +MR. JAMES RANKIN: + +Dear Sir-- + +I am so pleased with the good hatch I had from the two sittings I bought +of you this spring I wanted to let you know. From fifteen hen eggs I +have fifteen nice, large, strong chicks, and from fifteen duck eggs +hatched ten lovely ducklings. They are so large they are almost like +goslings. Thanking you for your kindness and the feather, I am, + +Very respectfully, Mrs. LENA CARTER. + + * * * * * + +CASAWOOD, Station R, N. Y. City, Jan. 9, 1897. + +MR. JAMES RANKIN: + +Dear Sir-- + +The trio of handsome Pekin Ducks you sent me were promptly received. +They seemed to me to be equal in size and beauty to those ducks which +received prizes at the late Poultry Show in Madison Square Garden, and I +regret now that I had not entered them. + +Yours truly, GRACE McVAY. + + * * * * * + +NANTUCKET, Jan. 8, 1897. + +MR. JAMES RANKIN: + +Dear Sir-- + +Ducks received in fine shape. They weighed just twenty pounds for the +pair the day they arrived. A number of people thought they were geese. +Please send me your catalogue and oblige, + +Yours truly, H. G. WORTH. + + * * * * * + +ROCKFORD, Ill., Jan. 2, 1897. + +MR. JAMES RANKIN: + +Dear Sir-- + +The drakes ordered of you a few days ago arrived in fine shape, and give +perfect satisfaction in every way. + +Yours respectfully, J. A. BRECKENBRIDGE. + + * * * * * + +GEORGETOWN, Dec. 30, 1896. + +MR. JAMES RANKIN: + +Dear Sir-- + +The ducks arrived safe and in good condition. I am very well pleased +with your selection, and to show you I appreciate it, I add my +testimonial. + +Respectfully yours, LEON S. GIFFORD. + + * * * * * + +FALL RIVER, May 1, 1896. + +MR. JAMES RANKIN: + +Dear Sir-- + +For that setting of duck eggs I received from you April 1st, I want to +thank you now for giving me sixteen eggs when I did not expect but +twelve. I should have written before, but I wanted to tell you how many +I hatched out. They started to hatch out two days before I looked for +them, so that now, May 1st, I have twelve little beauties. I am well +satisfied with my dealings with you. + +I remain yours truly, Mrs. F. E. PALMER. + + * * * * * + +Riverview Poultry Yards, WOODSVILLE, N. H., Jan. 25, 1896. + +MR. JAMES RANKIN: + +Dear Sir-- + +The ducks arrived all right this A. M., and they are beauties. We are +very much pleased with them and thank you for the selection. + +Yours respectfully, S. S. EVANS & SON. + + * * * * * + +POCOMOKE CITY, Md., Mar. 23, 1896. + +MR. JAMES RANKIN: + +Dear Sir-- + +I am much indebted to you for the prompt and satisfactory way in which +you filled my recent order for duck eggs. They arrived safe, and are the +largest duck eggs that I have ever seen. I enclose here fifty cents, for +which please send me your book on Duck Culture, + +Yours truly, J. PHILLIS CROCKETT. + + * * * * * + +SPRINGFIELD, Ill., Oct. 28, 1896. + +MR. JAMES RANKIN: + +Dear Sir-- + +Ducks arrived Monday evening (26th), in good shape. Am well satisfied +with my bargain. Also received your book, "Duck Culture," for same I am +very thankful. + +Respectfully yours, JOHN H. ROCKFORD. + + * * * * * + +NEW HAVEN, Conn., April 10, 1896. + +MR. JAMES RANKIN: + +Dear Sir-- + +I received the eggs yesterday, and am more than pleased with their size +and appearance. I also appreciate your method of doing business. You +sent me forty-five eggs, when I ordered three dozen, a surplus for +breakage, etc., of nine eggs, five of which were broken in shipping. +This alone shows your business capacity. Hoping that we shall be able to +do more business in the near future, I remain, + +Yours very truly, J. J. TOMKINS. + + * * * * * + +STERLING, LUEDOWN CO., Va., Oct. 31, 1896. + +MR. JAMES RANKIN: + +Dear Sir-- + +Ducks arrived O. K. and am very much pleased with them, as is everyone +else. I shall let you hear from me very soon in regard to incubator. + +Yours truly, R. S. VAN DEVENTOR. + + * * * * * + +HULL, P. Q., Can., Dec. 4, 1896. + +MR. JAMES RANKIN: + +Dear Sir-- + +The trio of Imperial Pekin Ducks that you sent me arrived Dec. 2d at +Ottawa all right, and I must say they are beautiful birds of large size. +The gentleman in charge of the Customs Examining Warehouse at Ottawa, +says he never saw one like them before. He took your name and address. I +had a number of visitors and they all admired them. I think I will send +for one more drake. I thank you for your selection. + + * * * * * + +NO. DUXBURY, Mass., April 10, 1897. + +MR. JAMES RANKIN: + +Dear Sir-- + +Inclosed find $10.00. Please forward more Pekin duck eggs. Yours are the +most fertile and produce the strongest ducks that I ever saw. Bill +eggs--A. M. Fletcher, Mansfield, and oblige, + +Yours, A. M. FLETCHER. + + * * * * * + + + + +THE INCUBATOR AND ITS USE + +By JAMES RANKIN + + A work compiled from over 30 years' experience by the author, + telling the novice just how to manage his incubator, hatch his eggs + and grow his chicks successfuly. + +PRICE, BY MAIL 25 CENTS + +We obtain the most of our cereals from the + + Washburn Crosby Co., + CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUILDING, + BOSTON, MASS. + +We find them a reliable firm always having a first-class article on +hand, at reasonable rates. + + * * * * * + +What is Worth Crowing Over + +MICO-SPAR CUBICAL GRIT? + +Mico-Spar Cubical Grit is a hard mineral product containing sodium, +aluminum, magnesium, lime and iron, natural chemical properties which +every poultry raiser knows are necessary to produce paying hens. + +Paying hens lay their share of eggs regularly and willingly, never +needing to be "forced" because they are well and strong. These are the +slow but sure kind, the kind that helps raise the mortgage. + +[Illustration] + +Mico-Spar Cubical Grit produces this kind of paying hens because it +_makes_ and _keeps_ hens healthy. It creates perfect digestion because +it keeps things in the crop on the move, owing to the fact that the +corners of the cube always remain sharp. Honest, practical tests have +shown that Mico Spar Cubical Grit is the hen's _choice_, and that the +minutest cube left in the crop retains its sharp corners. + +Mico-Spar Cubical Grit is not a hen food or powder. Its use is to tone +_naturally_ the entire system. It is an economical Grit because it does +not crush in handling, because its bright shining surface in the +scratching pen attracts the hen, thereby preventing loss, and because no +oyster shells are needed. + +If you are a hen raiser put Mico-Spar Cubical Grit on the hen yard menu +and you will prove that Mico Spar Cubical Grit is _worth crowing over_. + +INTERNATIONAL MINERAL CO. - - 120 TREMONT ST., BOSTON + +MICA CRYSTAL GRIT + +We buy this Grit by the carload and find it the best we have ever +used. It is clean, sharp and economical, and we heartily recommend +it to all. + +JAMES RANKIN, + +SOUTH EASTON, MASS. + + * * * * * + +PAROID ROOFING + +"IT LASTS" + +[Illustration: PAROID ROOFING IT LASTS + +Don't cover your barn with a mortgage. Use + +_Paroid Roofing_ + +the unexcelled permanent roofing for buildings of all kinds. Economical, +durable and easy to apply. Any one can put it on and it stays where you +put it. Complete roofing kit with each roll. Our book, "Building +Economy," tells all about inexpensive buildings. It's free to you.] + +Paroid contains no tar. It is made of strong felt, thoroughly saturated +and coated. It is proof against climatic changes--can be applied by +anyone and does not require painting when first laid. Paroid, used as a +siding, makes a neater job, keeps buildings warmer, and is less +expensive than shingles and clapboards. + +MADE IN 1, 2, AND 3 PLY + +Put up in rolls 36 inches wide, containing 216 and 108 square feet. +Complete kit for applying, inside of each roll. + +We have nearly one-half acre of roof covered with Paroid. It appears to +be elastic and very strong, and unaffected by heat or cold, and we +believe it will be very durable, and the cheapest thing on the market. +We have one stable 100 feet long, 32 feet wide, covered with it. + + JAMES RANKIN + SOUTH EASTON, MASS. + +SEND FOR PRICE LIST + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Natural and Artificial Duck Culture, by +James Rankin + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL DUCK *** + +***** This file should be named 38467.txt or 38467.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/8/4/6/38467/ + +Produced by David Edwards, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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