LAYING DUCKS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 132, 5 June 1937, Page 25

LAYING DUCKS

POINTS IN MANAGEMENT

The writer feeds a flock of about 50 Khaki Campbell ducks consisting of 30 young ducks hatched last OctoberNovember and some aged breeding ducks, some of which . are over five years old. For the past three months this flock has averaged over 24 eggs daily, and at present the birds are producing over 30 egc- each morning. As a commercial proposition these ducks are a genuine goldmine, and it is surprising'that more ducks are not kept in relation to the number of fowls. Their management is simple, provided suitable - range is available, and most smallholders and farmers could easily keep a small flock of laying ducks. Good egg-producing strains are easily obtainable today, and the Khaki Campbell is undoubtedly the best breed available, though there are still some good strains of the old Runner duck about, too. The Pekin duck can lay well, but;it is generally considered a table duck rather than a layer.

Unlike fowls, ducks prefer' wet weather, and although they w^ 11 lay well when confined, production will be better and much cheaper if they have free range during the daytime over grass paddocks. No flock of ducks should be larger than 50, since they are inclined to crowd too much and to damage the pasture for other stock. Ducks are less liable to disease infection than are fowls, the ducklings are very easy to rear, the unwanted drakes sell profitably at an early age, they do not fly over fences (a two-foot netting fence will keep most ducks in bounds), they do not need any housing though some shelter from wind is advisable, and to complete this song of praise, a duck will lay nearly as well in her sixth year.of laying as she will in her second year. Certainly they quaqk, they make a mess where any water lies about, they eat greedily but not really so very much, and they are definitely far more particular than hens. Any little change in the management of Mrs. Duck and she will promptly stop laying and possibly moult as well. Many ducks moult twice a year instead of once like most hens, but there is usually' a reason for this extra moult. There is, one other rather important disadvantage of keeping ducks; their eggs have a poor reputation amongst many egg buyers, but through rio fault of the duck. Some duck-egg producers are careless about how their, ducks are fed and more careless still about collecting, washing, and marketing the eggs promptly and in a fresh and clean condition. The duck lays her egg in any old place, sometime between daylight and about 9 a.m., and if she is on range the eggs will be most difficult to~ locate. Thus quite often stale eggs are found and sold with, of course, complaints to follow. Laying ducks should be confined at night in a small run in which they can be fed in the evening and morning before being allowed out to range for the day. .In this manner their eggs are easily found, and as the ducks are usually ready for their meal, yarding them does not present any difficulty, for they will be waiting at the gate if regular meal hours are kept. , REARING DUCKLINGS. Ducklings call be successfully reared at almost any time of the year, but for the best results October and Novem"ber hatchings are advisable, as. the young ducks will then commence laying in the autumn and continue laying without a break for several months. If hatched too early in the spring, the young ducks will not mature too .well during the hot, dry weather, and production may be poor. Duck eggs can be incubated in large numbers artificially in the same manner as hen eggs, but somewhat different management is required, and for a small flock natural methods are advised as being the best; as broody hens are easily obtained during September and • October for the purpose. The best plan is to set two or more hens at the same time, and when the ducklings hatch they can be divided up with one or more mother hens, giving each hen from 12 to 18 ducklings. Hatchability is not usually as good as ■ from hen eggs, and the incubation period is four weeks. There are just three golden rules to be kept if the ducklings are to be successfully reared: they ' must be regularly led, they must always have water to drink day and night, and they must have a dry bed to sleep on at night. When a month old they will look after themselves and grow so quickly that their owner won't know them if he goes away for a weekend. Ducklings like to swim, but this is bad for them, as they will get too wet and dampen their coop. The water must be arranged so that they can immerse their heads but not swim in it. A brick in a small piedish serves well. Feeding for the main part should be on mashes made of finelyground meals and greenstuff, and preferably mixed with skim milk. After three weeks soaked grain may be fed to advantage. Keeping the coop dry is difficult, since the ducklings bring in water from their continual trips to the "bar," but a good foundation of dry sand and the addition of dry straw will keep the coops dry for the first week, after which little harm will result from slight dampness. Cramp, the chief complaint of ducklings, is caused mainly by starvation followed by the drinking of too much cold water, and this can be avoided by leaving some food and water available for a midnight meal. Rats are very fond of young ducklings. FEEDING. Ducks have a quick digestive system. They must.be well fed if they are to lay well and soaked grain makes an excellent foundation for their feeding. A morning mash exactly the same as that for hens -will suffice except that a little more meatmeal. can be included, the amount being as much as 15 per dent, to laying ducks without access to grubs. If they have ample free range the only other feed necessary will be the late evening meal, which should consist of mixed grain which has been soaked in cold water for at least 24 hours. This softens the grain and makes it more readily digestible. Then ample clean water must be provided plus an unlimited supply of gravel and shell grit. Laying ducks consume .large quantities of shell grit, as duck eggs have a very thick shell and much lime is required to make them. If confined, greenfeed must be fed, plus more bran in the mash, as ducks like bulk. Most important is that of very regular management habits. The feed, and the manner of feeding it, should not be varied suddenly and no changes should be made in their runs or management of any kind without great care. Never chase a duck; its legs are none too strong. Always isolate a lame duck, as nearly all duck complaints eventually cause lameness prior to death.

Above all, remember that ducks thrive best when they have range available, specially succulent growth which contains insect life. In wet weather they will not cat nearly as

much food, since they will find far more slugs. In very dry weather they will stop laying unless their feeding is adjusted accordingly. Running water or a pond is not essential for ducks, though breeding stock will do better when water is available for swimming. Laying ducks are best kept out of too much cold water except for a periodical bath.