1922.] 



The Duck as an Egg -Producer. 



It may therefore serve a useful purpose to discuss briefly the 

 merits of the laying duck in its relation to the ordinary 

 practices of farming. It may be said, in passing, that, pheno- 

 menal as the fecundity of the ducks competing in the tests has 

 been, it is the opinion of practical duck-keeping farmers, that 

 if such results can be achieved in the conditions prevailing at 

 these tests there is reason to believe that they can be equalled 

 on the farm. That, indeed, has been my own experience in 

 free-range duck farming for eggs. 



Of not less significance than heavy laying is the question of 

 upkeep. Here the farmer is at a distinct advantage, and it is 

 this matter of upkeep, or cost of production, together with its 

 bearing not only upon direct profits but upon the economics of 

 farm practice which must be emphasised here. 



The laying duck is essentially a forager, and that charac- 

 teristic is so strongly marked that the Indian Runner is to the 

 old farm waddler what a light and active, laying-type Leghorn 

 is to some lethargic Asiatic table bird. Given a wide range on 

 almost any kind of land and the Runner will very nearly feed 

 itself from spring to autumn, though many duck-keepers con- 

 sider that it generally pays to give a good feed at night. During 

 that period, for example, I have maintained flocks of these ducks 

 on a single light feed of oats, or dredge corn, daily, and they 

 have laid abundantly. Not infrequently, indeed, as during 

 warm, rainy weather when the forage was good, or when the 

 birds were on stubble, hand feeding has been entirely sus- 

 pended without the egg yield being impaired in the slightest 

 degree. 



Significant as these things are in considering the financial 

 aspect of the matter, the farmer will not lose sight of the fact 

 that in maintaining itself and providing eggs the laying duck is 

 doing great service by destroying insect pests. The income 

 derived from its eggs may be the only direct and tangible return 

 upon which to estimate the bird's actual value to the balance 

 sheet, but few of us who have kept such flocks in field colonies 

 but will do the duck due justice by crediting it with taking the 

 part of pest destroyer in the general scheme of farm work, and 

 this is not to be considered lightly. 



Omnivorous as the duck is, it is animal food wiiich she seeks 

 with the greatest keenness, and the more she lays the acuter 

 becomes her appetite for such a diet. Those who have kept 

 laying ducks in confined areas know full well how necessary meat 

 in some form is to good laying, how much more necessary it is 



