LAYING CAPACITY OF DUCKS.

Matamata Record, Volume XI, Issue 933, 2 July 1928, Page 6

LAYING CAPACITY OF DUCKS.

! The following article by an English ! authority will prove interesting to loj cal poultry raisers:—

I ’ Until a few years ago ducks got but f scanty attention from the utilitarians. ' They were not considered worth the at--1 tendon that was given to highly re--1 cund poultry. Several enthusiasts, however, no doubt, in districts where > duck eggs were in demand, set to, to J build up strains that would give a i steady supply of eggs, and they were successful in their endeavours,

To day there are strains, of ducks that lay quite as many eggs in a season as the famous white Leghorn can do. There are now extensive duck farms in various parts of the country which are turning out eggs in large numbers. It is found, that ducks uo quite well without access to water, indeed it is an open question if they do not perhaps do better without it. Of course, they always require an ample supply of drinking water. Tne water vessels should be deep enough to allow the ducks to cover their heads with the water. The Best Strain. When tile original cuckers looked round for material to experiment with, they fixed upon Indian Runners, which have always had the reputation of being good, egg producers. At first the white Runners were the favourites, and they respond well to the treatment meted out to them to induce them ,to produce ,eggs. These white Runners received a lot of attention all over the world, but it was a New Zealand breeder who broke all records in 1920-1, when one of his ducks laid 334 eggs in eleven months. The bird was tested for a further month, and it was found; she had laid 363 eggs in 365 days. All the eggs were of first grade size, the majority being 2$ ounces. She laid- two eggs a day three times during that period. The previous best record was held by a Black Orpington, which laid 339 eggs in twelve months.

At this time, the fawn Eunner also came in for attention, and some fine strains were established between 25 and 30 years ago. Mrs Campbell of Uley made some , experiments in duck breeding for eggs and crossed a fawn Eunner diick with a Eouen drake, and from their progeny the Khaki Campbell duck was evolved which has made remarkable history at the recent egg laying tests. Flock averages have also been very good, many farms showing approximately 300 eggs per duck. An attempt to keep this very high average should not be made, ‘as it has undoubt cdly a lowering effect on the stamina of the strain, which would, of course, soon destroy, its high fecundity. Eggs would also soon ceaso to be fertile, and the ducklings would be weakly and difficult to rear.