POULTRY KEEPING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 10, 12 January 1934, Page 12

POULTRY KEEPING.

DUCKS EASY TO REAR. LARGE, ROOMY RtTNS NEEDEf (By ORPINGTON.) e Ducks are much, easier to rear tha it hens. They have not been over-bred i d the same extent for egg productioi d and, although they actually hold worl s records for both numbers and weigh - of eggs laid (as against hens), seei i Ito mako more natural egg machine ' and are not so prone to disorders of th j ovary. Then a duck is natural] j longer lived than a hen, so that thei i production period lasts longer, and it i - longer before they break down "of oL f age." One of the greatest bugbears t t the poultry man is that troublesom j diseaec, roup, which can grow out o ' the common cold. Ducks seem to b •" immune from this, and, indeed, ; j. prominent breeder and writer on duel 3 lore in England propounds tho opinioi ■ that ducks drinking the same water a ' hens even prevent their infecting eacl \ other. It would be interesting t< . know if any reader has had a con ! sidorable outbreak of roup among hi: 1 hens when they are running with ducks Ducklings can bo infected witl r coccidiosis, but one rarely hears o: trouble in that direction, probably \ because, although they graze at quite i , tender age, they do not peck matter uj i from tho ground in the way smal i chicks do, thus infecting themselves bj , eating the coccidia if they are about. The most common cause of duck lings not thriving as they should is over crowding. Even as tiny ducklings witl hen or hover, they need more room thai chicks do, and seem to require a more abundant supply of fresh air. Verj Email confined runs too often cramr. them and deprive them of the shadt they need from the sun. When the hatch proves uneven and only a fets doing really well, look to lack of room being tho cause. Ducklings grow so very rapidly, too, that what is ample space this week may not be next. Beware of Inbreeding. Inbreeding — that is, mating toe closely related birds —is another cause of disaster with ducks and the rearing of them. As with turkeys, this is often allowed in duck breeding where it would not be among hens. The ducks are, in fact, often allowed to breed as they choose. They are naturally so hardy that it at first has no ill-effects, and so may be continued, with the result that rearing will be troublesome, and soon after the young ducks come into lay much too great a proportion may sicken and die from a variety of causes, apparently—wasting, tumours, cramp or leg-weakness, or ovary troubles—but the root cause will be lack of stamina to stand up to laying. This is readily brought about by lack of new blood or any indiscriminate form of inbreeding. A farmer recently asked why many of his ducks were apparently dying of swollen feet. The birds were somewhat closely bred, and the owner thought it might bo a consequent form of tuberculosis. From the description—"a small corn on tho pad of tho foot, which becomes swollen, with heat, gradually inflaming the whole leg, and the birds limp, or hold up the foot, and soon cease to lay" —it is apparently bumble foot. This again is more common among hens than ducks, but, in spite of the fact that it often occurs in several, birds at one time, it is not infectious. It may be caused by a thorn entering the pad of the foot (and this is the most common cause), tho "corn" being Nnture's way of covering round the foreign body. It may also be caused by a bruise, such as hens get by jumping oh to hard ground from too high perches, or ducks by waddling over too rough ground when it is also hard and stony. The apparently "infectious" nature of it is merely duo to a common cause. Ducks Have Tender Feet. Tho first step towards remedy is to remove the cause. The farm in question had very rough ground, and a great deal of blackberry, and some gorse. Probably thorns from cither of these were at the root of the trouble. Ducks are very tender, on their feet, and, if possible, should not have very rough land or any steps near the pen where they are housed at night (or in it), since they are often driven there, and do not have time to chooso their way. They do not have the use of their wings for rough places that hens do. If the trouble has become acute, as in this case, it might be worth while examining all tho birds, removing any hard corns, and swabbing the place with iodine. When the foot is swollen, it is often troublesome. Bathe it in fairly warm water several times a day until the swelling seems "ripe," then cut across it, under the foot, even if the abscess should appear most on top of the web, for. they have to drain downwards. Remove absolutely all the pus, whether hard or liquid, and swab out the cavity with warm water and disinfectant. Dry it and apply weak iodine. Bandage the whole foot very thoroughly, taking the strips of lint or rag between the claws. If this is not done securely, dirt is sure to get in, even if the bird is kept apart on clean straw. Give Them a Swimming Pona. There is' no doubt that, although it is not necessary, swimming water for ducks does help to keep up the egg supply in hot, dry weather. Without it, it is very difficult to keep them adequately supplied with cool water, they waste so much. It should always be deep enough for them to be able to cover their head, or at least their nostrils, which readily become clogged with wet mash or any sort of filth they may explore. There is always a keen demand . towards the end of the summer and into the autumn, for pullets or young ducks, and a specialised trade can be built up in these, as in day-old chicks. But the rearer does not profit unless a good price is obtained, and before parting with well reared pullets, the price of their hatching, feeding, housing; and the labour entailed, should be reckoned. Although they can be reared more cheaply on the dairy farm than by the poultry farmer, it may still be more profitable to keep them for autumn production. In April, May and June, a pullet can lay a shillingsworth of eggs per week, when her feed should not cost more than lAd. , . !

Study the quality of table birds before grumbling at the prices obtained for them. Weighty birds are not sufficient. They must be compact, with a good proportion of meat to the size of bones. The flesh should be soft, not sheer museie and sinew. They should not be bruised from poor crating or have wounded skin from'fighting.