RANKIN'S DUCK BOOK 



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 saw water, the year 

 round, except to drink. They were 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 were confined 

 in these yards for nine months, or till August 1, when they 

 were removed in order that the land might be disinfected. 

 This was done by plowing and growing a crop of barley or 

 rye, when the land was ready for the ducks again. 



Free Range Unnecessary 



I was constantly experimenting to see if there were 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. An- 

 other lot of seventy-five were allowed the range of the whole 

 premises, with the same feed and care as the eight yard* 

 confined. The latter were liberally supplied with all the green 

 and vegetable food needed. The egg production and the fer- 

 tility 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 quan- 

 tities of cornmeal, wheat-bran, and boiled turnips and pota- 

 toes, 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 experimented carefully during thirty years 



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