Duoks — 'Are more hardy and independent of attention than
the goose, and they are generally the most .profitable. They
are omnivorous, and greedily devour everything which will
afiford them nourishment, though they seldom forage on the
grass. They Are peculiarily carnivorous, and devour all kinds
of meat, putrid or fresh, and are especially fond of fish and such
insects, worms, etc., as they can find imbeded in the mud or
elsewhere. They will often distend their crop with young
frogs, almost to the ordinary size of their bodies. Their indis-
criminate appetites often render them unfit for the table,
unless fattened out of the reach of garbage and offensive
matters. An English admiral used to resort to well fattened
rats for his fresh meat, when at sea, and justified^ his taste by
saying they were more cleanly feeders than ducks, which were
general favorites.
The varieties of ducks are almost innumerable. Main
describes thirty-one, and some naturalists number many more.
The most profitable for domestic use, aside from the common
one, are the Black Cayuga, the Aylesbury, and Rouen, all
being of much larger size, and richer and more delicate flavor
of flesh. They lay profusely in the spring, when well fed, often
producing forty or fifty eggs, and sometimes a greater number,
if kept from sitting. They are much larger than those of the
hen, and equally rich and nourishing, but less delicate. They
are careless in their habits, and generally drop their eggs
v/herever they happen to be through the night, whether in the
water, the road, or farm-yard; and, as might be expected from
274 POULTRY.
such prodigality of character, they are indifferent sitters and
nurses. The ducklings are better reared by sitting the eggs
under a sedate, experienced hen, as the longer time necessary
for hatching requires patience in the foster-mother to develop
the young chicks. They should be confined for a few days,
and away from the water. At first they may be fed with bread,
or pudding made from boiled oat barley, or Indian meal; and
they soon acquire strength and enterprise enough to shift for
themselves, if afterwards supplied with pond or river water.
They are fit for the table when fully grown, and well fattened
on clean grain. This is more economically accomplished by
feeding it cooked. We omit further notice of other varieties,
and of the swan, brant, pigeons, etc., as not profitable for
general rearing, and only suited to ornamental grounds,
DISEASES AND REMEDIES.
Most of the diseasos to which fowls are subject are the
results of errors in diet or management, and should have been
prevented, or may be removed by a change, and the adoption
of a suitable regimen. When an individual is attacked, it
should be forthwith removed, to prevent the contamination of
the rest of the flock. Nature, who proves a guardian to fowls
in health, will nurse them in their weakness, and act as a most
efficient physician to the sick; and the aim of all medical treat-
ment should be to follow the indications which Nature holds
out, and assist in the effort which she constantly makes for the
restoration of health.
Page 191
Presented as published in 1883. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
Ducks — Are more hardy and independent of attention than the goose, and they are generally the most .profitable. They are omnivorous, and greedily devour everything which will afiford them nourishment, though they seldom forage on the grass. TThey are peculiarly carnivorous, and devour all kinds of meat, putrid or fresh, and are especially fond of fish and such insects, worms, etc., as they can find imbeded in the mud or elsewhere. They will often distend their crop with young frogs, almost to the ordinary size of their bodies. Their indiscriminate appetites often render them unfit for the table, unless fattened out of the reach of garbage and offensive matters. An English admiral used to resort to well fattened rats for his fresh meat, when at sea, and justified his taste by saying they were more cleanly feeders than ducks, which were general favorites.
The varieties of ducks are almost innumerable. Main describes thirty-one, and some naturalists number many more. The most profitable for domestic use, aside from the common one, are the Black Cayuga, the Aylesbury, and Rouen, all being of much larger size, and richer and more delicate flavor of flesh. They lay profusely in the spring, when well fed, often producing forty or fifty eggs, and sometimes a greater number, if kept from sitting. They are much larger than those of the hen, and equally rich and nourishing, but less delicate. They are careless in their habits, and generally drop their eggs v/herever they happen to be through the night, whether in the water, the road, or farm-yard; and, as might be expected from
such prodigality of character, they are indifferent sitters and nurses. The ducklings are better reared by sitting the eggs under a sedate, experienced hen, as the longer time necessary for hatching requires patience in the foster-mother to develop the young chicks. They should be confined for a few days, and away from the water. At first they may be fed with bread, or pudding made from boiled oat barley, or Indian meal; and they soon acquire strength and enterprise enough to shift for themselves, if afterwards supplied with pond or river water. They are fit for the table when fully grown, and well fattened on clean grain. This is more economically accomplished by feeding it cooked. We omit further notice of other varieties, and of the swan, brant, pigeons, etc., as not profitable for general rearing, and only suited to ornamental grounds,
DISEASES AND REMEDIES.
Most of the diseasos to which fowls are subject are the results of errors in diet or management, and should have been prevented, or may be removed by a change, and the adoption of a suitable regimen. When an individual is attacked, it should be forthwith removed, to prevent the contamination of the rest of the flock. Nature, who proves a guardian to fowls in health, will nurse them in their weakness, and act as a most efficient physician to the sick; and the aim of all medical treatment should be to follow the indications which Nature holds out, and assist in the effort which she constantly makes for the restoration of health.