February, I9II 
AMERICANS EOMES) AND GARDENS 53 
The artificial mother or brooder 
Duck Farming as an Industry 
By Howland Gasper 
MONG tthe large and lucrative industries 
which have had their growth within the 
past score of years is the raising of 
Imperial Pekin ducks. Its inception and 
progress are alike interesting and instruc- 
tive. Eastport, situated on the south side of 
Long Island, may be considered the cradle 
of the business which has grown to such proportions, while 
William C. Pye, whose place in that village has, during 
little more than a decade, devel- 
oped from a few scattered sheds 
to a magnificent ranch, embrac- 
ing the most modern type of 
buildings and _ scientific equip- 
ment, was its pioneer. 
Mr. Pye was a bayman when 
he conceived the idea of start- 
ing a duck ranch. Being with- 
out funds, he was obliged to 
secure credit for the lumber 
with which the first buildings 
were erected. His friends at- 
tempted to dissuade him from 
his object, but without avail. 
The resultant surprise of these 
friends may be therefore im- 
agined when, at the end of the 
first season, his returns enabled 
him not only to pay all indebted- 
ness, but afforded a substantial 
profit in addition. The capacity 
of the ranch was increased, a 
proportionate increase in profits 
being realized, and a few years 
later the output of one season 
exceeded 25,000 ducks. Mr. 
Pye’s experience led many other' 
parties to adopt the same occu- 
pation, and ranches of more or less pretentious dimensions 
arose throughout that section. Overproduction, as might 
be expected, was the result, and a number of ambitious 
raisers were practically ruined. The business was then, 
however, reduced to a substantial basis, and those now 
engaged in it are receiving an adequate profit. 
The success of Mr. Pye and others who have achieved 
the most gratifying results has been due in no small measure 
to the kindly encouragement and able assistance afforded by 
their wives, who superintended all the more delicate details 
of the business. 
On the duck ranches the most thorough system is main- 
tained; an expert being assigned to each branch of the work, 
to which he devotes his exclusive attention. For example, 
one man assumes charge of the incubators, another of the 
breeders, while another attends to the mixing of the feed 
Turning the eggs 
and its proper allotment to the various sized ducklings. The 
requirements of these men are very exacting, both as to skill 
and to time, and considerably higher wages are allowed 
them than for common laborers. 
Attending the incubators constitutes one of the most 
important as well as interesting lines of work on a duck 
ranch, and the best experienced and trustworthy men 
employed are assigned to it. A lack of attention for only a 
few hours during variable weather, or neglect to properly 
refill or light the heating lamps, 
might prove disastrous and re- 
sult in the loss of the whole sea- 
son’s profits. During extremely 
cold weather the attendant 
sleeps in the incubator house, 
where an alarm clock, set to 
ring at short intervals, enables 
him to properly maintain the 
uniform temperature in the ma- 
chines. The incubator house con- 
tains between a dozen and fifty 
machines, according to the capa- 
city of the ranch. These usually 
contain 300 eggs apiece, 100 
eggs being laid on a tray. These 
trays require turning at least 
twice a day, to prevent the germ 
touching any one portion of the 
shell too long a time. Trays 
containing water afford the nec- 
essary moisture, and prevent the 
egg becoming dry too rapidly. 
At the expiration of four or 
five days the eggs are tested by 
a strong light, to determine the 
presence of a germ. Those ap- 
pearing clear, thereby indicating 
infertility, are shipped to the 
city markets, and sold by unscrupulous dealers as fresh eggs. 
The only apparent difference between them and the fresh 
ones is noticed after breaking, when the tested egg’s yolk 
will run. ‘The test results usually in almost one-third of the 
original 300 being removed. About 150 of the remaining 
200 will hatch, the proportion depending on the vitality of 
the germ. Many of the little ducklings, who do not possess 
sufficient strength to break the confines of their shell after 
protruding their bills, are assisted in this direction by the 
owner, who breaks it and draws the head out. Great care 
must be exercised against rupturing a tiny blood vessel, which 
would invariably produce death. The incubation of a duck 
requires twenty-eight days, just one week more than a chicken. 
The little ducklings are allowed to remain in the incubator 
several hours to dry before removal to the brooder house. 
A temperature of between 101 and 103 degrees is main- 
