18 
MANAGEMENT OF DUCKS. 
Buck raising lias been developed within the last ten years into a 
flourishing industry. Prior to that time the duck was not considered a 
profitable fowl to raise; its flesh was never prized very highly by the 
masses. Ducks were raised without constraint in waterways, feeding 
mostly on fish and water insects. This food gave the flesh a strong 
fishy flavor; hence it was not particularly sought after, save by the few 
who were partial to that class of diet. The duck centers of Long 
Island and New England were then producing a limited number each 
season, and it was with difficulty that these were sold with any profit. 
In fact, one of the most prominent duck raisers may be quoted as say¬ 
ing that he was obliged to visit the city markets personally and tease 
the dealers to purchase his birds, in order to secure anything like satis¬ 
factory prices. 
Artificial incubation and brooding, combined with judicious feeding, 
have been instrumental in the development of the industry. Machin¬ 
ery has enabled the duck raiser to accomplish his ambition of having 
his stock in the markets when prices are the best, and also of raising 
large numbers of birds in a limited space of time. The season for rais¬ 
ing ducks is about six months—from February to July. The methods 
employed by the most successful raisers will be given in this bulletin, 
and the most approved buildings, appliances, feeding, and care will be 
treated in detail. 
Duck raising is to be recommended to farmers as a profitable source 
of revenue; and by careful attention to the work, as knowledge 
increases, the scope of the industry may be extended. There are num¬ 
bers of farms in this country to-day that are devoted exclusively to 
raising ducks, averaging from 5,000 to 20,000 ducks as an annual out¬ 
put. An idea of the proportions of the business may be had from the 
fact that as high as three tons of feed are used daily by a single raiser 
during the busy season. The profits are the very best, and good incomes 
may be made when once the business is thoroughly mastered. But the 
reader should not jump imprudently to the conclusion that these results 
can be easily obtained. Duck raising is an arduous task; one that 
requires an apprenticeship and absolute knowledge of the business 
before success is reached. Those who have been successful in raising 
ducks have learned the business much as one does any other vocation. 
The beginner should start modestly, and increase his plant as his knowl¬ 
edge of the work increases. The average farmer has all the facilities 
for raising a goodly number of ducks, and may with a little outlay add 
considerably to his income. 
It is not at all necessary that ducks should have access to water to 
be raised successfully; they grow and thrive as readily without. There 
are successful plants where thousands of ducks are raised that have no 
water, save that which is given them as drink. It has been a matter 
of much dispute which is the better way. Some duck raisers use 
