Growing ducks for market is a specialized side line in poultry keeping and is becoming popular with many poultrymen and farmers, especially those near large towns and cities. Profits received for money invented are very attractive and the turnover is rapid.

Considerable experimental work with different varieties of ducks, and the use of different feeds fed in different ways have been carried on at the Experimental Farm in Ottawa, states A. G. Taylor. Poultry division . A brief summary of results obtained  would indicate that ducklings of the Pekin breed make the best gains with the least amount of feed. When properly handled, ducklings of this breed make one pound gain in weight on 3.5 to 4 pounds of feed consumed. They can be developed to market age in about ten weeks times when fed on a mixture of equal parts cornmeal, shorts and bran with ten per cent beef meal added. It is a good plan to add about one per cent fine salt to the mash. Mix thoroughly in its dry state before using.

Frequent feeding promotes rapid growth. Feed six times daily from the start until ducklings are three weeks old, and fives times daily until they are ready for market.

Duck mashes should be moistened with water before feeding. It is a good plan to moisten the mixture about two to three hours before feeding so that the mash may become swollen and more easily digested.

Add sufficient water to make the mash quiet moist and let it stand for a few hours. When ready to feed it should not be sloppy but just wet enough that it will stick together. Sprinkle coarse sand over the mash before feeding. The sand serves as grit, and aids in the process of digestion. Chick size oyster shell should be provided so that the ducklings can help themselves. Feed only what the ducklings will eat up clean at each feeding.

Finely chopped green feed should be added to the mash after the ducklings are four to five days old. Fresh cut clover or alfalfa which has been chopped fine makes excellent green feed. Start with only a very small amount and increase the green feed gradually until it represents about one fifth of the ration. 

When the ducklings are about seven weeks old, the green feed should be gradually eliminated and at the commencement of the eight week the mash should be changed to 50 pounds cornmeal, 35 pounds shorts and 15 pound beef meal with a sprinkling of coarse sand.

By the end of the tenth week the ducklings should be in excellent flesh and have developed their first coat of feathers. At this time there should be no delay in marketing them. If kept longer they will change their feathers, which will slow up development and reduce profit. The profit made in the raising of ducks for market is directly dependent on the successful marketing of the product at the proper time. 

– Growing Ducks For Market, The Charlottetown Guardian. March 4, 1940

Source: islandnewspapers.ca