Duck-Rearing 257 



moderate-sized flocks, that roam at will over a 

 considerable portion of the premises. When reared 

 under these conditions, the ducks frequently prove 

 beneficial in the destruction of various insect pests. 

 They will travel long distances, and in their rambles 

 are continually on the lookout for food; both vege- 

 table and animal life are greedily consumed. Ducks 

 may become, under certain conditions, quite as 

 destructive to farm crops as chickens, although 

 if streams or wet fields are included within their 

 range a considerable portion of their time is given 

 to hunting food in these places. 



Those who enter into duck-raising extensively 

 rear the fowls almost exclusively for meat. The 

 eggs produced by extensive duck-raisers are not 

 put on the market as food to any great extent, in 

 competition with eggs that are produced cheaper 

 by the noted egg breeds of hens. Ducks can seldom 

 successfully compete with hens for egg production. 



Many farmers prefer, for various reasons, to 

 keep ducks rather than hens. It is well known 

 that ducks are comparatively free from disease 

 and are not nearly so likely to be troubled with 

 vermin as are hens. This is of considerable impor- 

 tance on many farms where the fowls are not given 

 much care and attention. 



Ducks are much more easily confined than 

 hens. A fence two or three feet high should suffice 

 for them under all ordinary conditions, particularly 



