1905.] 



Duck Raising. 



463 



Space required. — A further question which presents itself for 

 consideration is the amount of space available. Fowls, geese, 

 and turkeys alike are active in habit, and thrive best when they 

 have an abundance of range ; fowls, when the adult stage has 

 been reached, may be confined to a relatively small area, especi- 

 ally where egg production is the main object, but this is at best 

 an expedient which has its limitations. During the growing 

 period their activity makes them less amenable to restriction. As 

 they grow their range increases, and greater success is obtained 

 if they can be given full freedom. Geese and turkeys, both old 

 and young, must have free range. Hence they are essentially 

 farmers' fowls, only to be kept by those who are not limited to 

 a small area of land. To attempt the rearing of these birds 

 under conditions which are sufficient for chickens and ducks 

 would be to court disaster. In fact, the number of geese or 

 turkeys kept or bred should be about the same per acre as the 

 number of sheep. 



Ducks occupy a place by themselves. Whilst the older birds — 

 the breeding stock — thrive all the better for plenty of space and 

 for an abundance of water, the youngsters can be massed to- 

 gether to an extent which would be fatal to any other class of 

 poultry. Why that should be so has not yet been explained, 

 but it is none the less a fact. During the infantile stage, when 

 they are fed for early development, they appear to be able to 

 sustain forcing for a longer period than any other species of 

 poultry, and the desire to wander about is apparently dormant. 

 Further, they appear to be less influenced by the injurious effects 

 of tainted ground than are chickens or young turkeys. The 

 ■"duckers" of the Vale of Aylesbury and surrounding districts have 

 for very many years been able to rear large quantities of duck- 

 lings upon small areas, where the birds are crowded together in 

 great numbers with no ill results such as would be looked for 

 if like methods were adopted with chickens. Duck farming, 

 therefore, presents special advantages to the occupier of a small 

 area of land, as he can raise a much larger number of birds per 

 acre per annum than would be possible with any other class of 

 poultry. 



Value of duck manure. — The high value of duck manure 

 is recognised by those who have kept these birds, but 



