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Show BpIJW FAVOR INDIAN RUNNER DUCKS Few Breeds Better Suited to Farm Raising Imported From West Indies In-dies Fifteen Years Ago. Much has been said through the different dif-ferent farm and poultry journals in favor of the Indian Runner duck, but I believe there are few who realize the possibilities and advantages of rearing rear-ing ducks of this breed. As I have been raising this breed ol ducks for a few years, I can testify that they deserve all the praise given them. They are not an entirely new variety, vari-ety, ' having been imported some 15 years ago from the West Indies, thus it receives the name of "Indian" with the "Runner" added to denote its chiel peculiarity, its rapid movement over the ground. They are great foragers and pick up innumerable bugs and insects. This alone should give them an important place on every farm. Owing to their extreme hardiness, ii is quite an easy task to raise a large flock of Indian Runners, with very little trouble. They are never bothered with lice, there are no roosts to keep clean, and no expensive houses are needed; just a low-roofed shed to protect them from the severe winds and snows in winter, says a writer In the Farm Progress. The houses should have a dry floor-covering floor-covering of straw or some kind of litter, lit-ter, as they must have a dry place on which to sleep. While they are not a land fowl, it if not at all necessary to have running water for them to swim in, all that ia needed is plenty of clean water tc drink, placed in a vessel deep enough Indian Runner Drake and Duck. for them to cover their heads, as the nostrils are liable to become clogged with mud or feed. The young ducklings grow and mature ma-ture so quickly it is indeed very inter esting and fascinating to raise them. We have had young ducklings that weighed three and one-fourth pounds when 60 days old; when matured they will weigh from four and one-half tc five pounds. Being a quick maturing fowl makes their meat exceedingly tender, and juicy, of fine flavor, equal or superior su-perior to spring chicken. Their eggs are large, about one-third larger than the average hen egg, and perfectly white. And, contrary to the general idea of duck eggs, they are of mild, delicate flavor, making them very desirable for the table or cake baking, puddings, etc. The eggs under Drdinary conditions are very fertile and will hatch exceedingly well in incuba-Lors. |