KEEPING DUCKS PROFITABLY

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 98, 16 July 1927, Page 26

KEEPING DUCKS PROFITABLY

Lecturing on ducks and egg-produc-tion at Norwich, recently. Air. F. W. Reddaway, a leading English duck specialist, said that laying ducks did best in flocks up to about 60 head, but that they could be run in flocks of even 250 to profit, although above this figure it was not advisable to go. For breeding pens it was advisable to keep to sixes, dozens or eighteens. with one. two or three drakes respectively.

OLD BIRDS IN YOUNG CLASSES It is interesting to note that this question has again come forward. Probably in no year since the institution of shows could it be stated that there were- not instances of birds appearing in these classes which every experienced breeder felt confident had made their appearance prior to July 1, and therefore, were debarred by rules from inclusion.

Of course, it must be recognised that there are great differences In the rapidity of growth in birds. That can be seen in almost every flock. Cases have been known in which judges have passed birds in chicken classes as too old, misled by early maturity, which could be proved to have been hatched within the period specified. As a consequence, they have been inclined to give the benefit of any doubt there may be to the exhibitor, and that has given an opening to the less scrupulous, whereas the better way would have been to be more rigid. DIFFICULT TO REGULATE

So serious did this question become in England that several years ago a proposal was made to put back the limit to November 1. instead of New Year’s Day, but it was not adopted. Any time limit is arbitrary. That cannot be helped. Breeders have often pointed out that it would be ridiculous to penalise cases where the hatching was a day or two less than the usual 21 days, and that if the chicks came out on, say, June 29 or 30, these must be shown as old birds the following December. To that may be replied that it is a question of honour, of moral sense. If anyone enters birds for exhibition he accepts the conditions imposed and signs the entry sheet to that effect. Therefore, to knowingly breaK these is fraudulent, no matter how fine the point may be. I cannot see where the pleasure of winning by ® u r“ means can come in. It can only *> e the money which attracts.