1905.] 



Duck Raising. 



465, 



hatching commenced. By so doing the ground could be left 

 vacant for several months of the year, although many of the 

 " duckers " do not trouble themselves in that direction, as 

 the birds have no access to grass at any period of their 

 existence. What is found to be almost a necessity with 

 " duckers " has proved equally desirable where operations have 

 been on a larger scale. The one point in favour of the American 

 plan is that the race or quality of the stock can be controlled,, 

 but on all other grounds the plan adopted in this country is pre- 

 ferable, as the breeding stock is kept by ordinary farmers under 

 more natural conditions, and the ducklings are hardier. The 

 largest duck raiser in this country does not keep any breeding 

 stock, relying entirely on purchased eggs to the number of about 

 50,000 per annum. Ducks are kept in the district around this 

 farm to an extent never known before, although a sufficient 

 supply is not yet obtainable locally — in fact, the difficulty in 

 obtaining eggs has been considerable. 



Breed. — The breed of ducks which is found to be the best 

 adapted to the British market is the Aylesbury, formerly called 

 the White English. This breed is the most rapid in growth 

 and fattens well at an early age, thus meeting the duckling 

 trade in the spring and early summer, when prices rule high 

 for good specimens. Birds of this breed can be brought into 

 killing condition at the age of seven to nine weeks, when they 

 weigh 4 to 5J lb. No other breed will accomplish like results 

 in the same time. For the autumn and winter trade the Rouen 

 is preferred, as it attains a large size and has the finest flesh of 

 all the duck family. But the demand is comparatively small at 

 that season of the year. Ducks are heavy eaters, and to produce 

 a bird six months old involves considerable expense in food 

 and diminishes the profit. 



Water not required for ducklings. — That adult stock of this; 

 species require water in which to swim is generally acknow- 

 ledged. The absence of what is their natural element does 

 not decrease the productiveness of ducks, but it is found that 

 ducklings bred from birds kept entirely on the land are less 

 vigorous, do not grow nearly so fast, and are more subject to 

 disease. But so far as young birds are concerned whose life 

 only lasts a few weeks, they grow more rapidly if they are 



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