TURKEYS, DUCKS, AND GEESE 



59 



but about the first of October he should have an eve- 

 ning meal of good yellow corn. It is well to begin 

 with a little at a time, but by the first of November 

 he must go to bed with a full ,crop every night. 

 Tliis makes the flesh yellow, juicy, and tender. 



Ducks. Pekins are the most popular ducks (Fig. 

 36). Duck's eggs can 

 be hatched under hens 

 or in incubators. The 

 first food of the duck- 

 lings should be a moist 

 mash instead of dry 

 feed. Ducks need plenty 

 of water to drink, for 

 they take a mouthful of 

 food and wash it down 

 with water. They must 

 have drinking pans 

 deep enough so they can 



stick their heads in over their eyes, because that is 

 their way of keeping their nostrils and eyes clean. 

 The birds are dry-picked to save the feathers for 

 pillows. Duck's eggs are popular, especially at 

 Easter. 



Geese. The goose is the Christmas bird (Fig. 37). 

 When geese are allowed to roam they gather most 

 of their food, which is usually grasses and insects. 

 In the winter months they must be fed one meal a 

 day. Geese graze as freely as cattle and have been 

 accused of destroying the roots of grass. They must 



Fig. 3G. Pekin ducJcs. 



