RANKIN'S DUCK BOOK 



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 left 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 lab.or insure 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 busi- 

 ness of detail and that small things must be taken into account. 

 It is not only a very essential thing to choose the best breed- 

 ing 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 salable. 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 disap- 

 peared mysteriously, and in such large numbers that we were 

 nearly discouraged. Hawks do not trouble ducks, but r'ats, 

 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 



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