RANKIN'S DUCK BOOK 



rial number we were well satisfied. All this lias been changed. 

 AVe 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 Three 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 con- 

 nected with this thing which the novice must ponder care- 

 fully before he begins, as a slight mistake in the beginning 

 often means a great loss in the end. As pioneers in the busi- 

 ness we were for many years carefully experimenting with 

 the different breeds, different treatment and variety of food. 

 We met with many failures, suffered some loss, but with a 

 gradual improvement through it all, which was very encour- 

 aging to us, and though we did not claim perfection, yet we 

 reaped a rich harvest compared to which, our former losses 

 •were simply insignificant. It was a a source of gratification 

 to know that success 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 later years when we grew our birds by 

 the thousands, regulated the growth, controlled the mortality, 

 and grew flesh or feathers at will ; shortened the precocity, 

 increased fecundity, and even educated the birds to an aver- 

 sion for water, which was formerly their home ; we 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 

 could safely feel the victory was won. We hope that our 

 readers will not only benefit by the experience we shall pre- 

 sent, 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 



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