DlVISIOy OF POULTRY 975 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



The flock should be brought to full feed gradually, care being taken not to feed 

 too heavily on beef scrap at tirst, as it is liable to scour the birds. They should be 

 fed twice a day, night and morning, all they will eat. After laying is fairly well 

 started, the bran may be reduced somewhat and the corn chop increased. 



RATION FOR DUCKLINGS. 



Stale bread, soaked in milk until it has taken up all it will, then stiffen to a 

 fairly moist mash by adding bran two parts, corn meal two parts, middlings two parts, 

 beef scrap half part, and coarse sand half part, and a liberal quantity of finely chopped 

 clover, lambs quarters, dandelions, or any other tender succulent green food. The 

 ducklings should be fed five times a day for the first three or four weeks; four times a 

 day until six weeks ; three times until ten weeks, when they should either be marketed 

 or put on range for breeders, in which ease they should be fed twice a day until it 

 'is desired to start them laying. 



After the ducklings are about a week old, the proportion of bread may be reduced. 

 If the ducklings are for market purposes this ration may be continued for four or 

 five weeks and then corn meal should be gradually increased until, at finishing time, 

 they should be getting about two parts corn meal to one part bran and middlings. If 

 the ducklings are intended for stock purposes, when the bread is reduced after the 

 first week it is advisable to increase the middlings about one part. If milk is not 

 obtainable, water may be ueed to moisten the mash, and if stale bread can not be pur- 

 chased at a sufficiently low price, use two parts middlings instead of one. 



Many people are under the impression that ducklings require water to swim in; 

 this is a mistaken idea, as the.y will do just as well without it, in fact for the first few 

 weeks they will do much better. A liberal supply of drinking water should be given 

 them at feeding time, but it should be given in such dishes that it will be impossible 

 for the ducklings to get into them. 



RATION FOR GOSLINGS. 



The same ration as advised for ducklings may be fed goslings. They should be 

 fed three times a day and should have the run of a plot of tender grass or clover and 

 be liberally supplied with drinking water. 



RATION FOR TURKEY POULTS. 



The same mash advised for ducklings may be used for the poults, but be sure 

 to get enough tender green food into it. If you have not been accustomed 

 to raise turkeyu you will be surprised at the way they will pick out all tlie tender 

 greens first. In addition to this mash they may be given clotted sour milk or curd and 

 finely cracked grains. 



They should be given a good dry run and kept out of long grass until the dew is 

 off it. After the first few weeks they may be given their liberty and fed morning 

 and evening to ensure their return. On the approach of a storm they should always 

 be got under cover. 



Ottawa. 

 16— 63i 



