100 



HOW TO FEED POULTRY FOR ANY PURPOSE WITH PROFIT 



meat rations under the conditions which obtain on the 

 commercial duck farm, though perhaps not quite as rapid- 

 ly. In growing ducks for market, the profit is in the 

 green duck, killed at from nine to eleven or twelve weeks 

 of age. In growing a few ducks for the home table, a 

 much meatier and larger duck can be obtained by keeping 

 them until four or five months old. But to hold them 

 profitably for the longer period they should be where 

 they will pick much of their living, or where garden 

 waste will make an important part of their diet. It will 

 not pay to hold them so long and buy grain for them. 

 Commercial duck growers also use large proportions of 

 green feed in mashes, but rarely have enough of it to re- 

 duce appreciably the quantity of grain and meat needed 

 to grow their ducks. 



Large flocks of ducks kept for breeding can rarely 

 be given a range that will supply any appreciable quan- 

 tity of feed. Small flpcks with good range either on grass 



the ducks begin laying- increase the amount of meat 

 scrap to 12 or 15 per cent. At noon feed a little hard 

 grain corn, wheat, or oats, or a mixture of those 

 grains. 



II FEED FOR YOUNG DUCKLINGS 



First four days, wheat bran. 4 parts; corn meal, 

 1 part; low-grade flour. 1 part; 5 per cent of fine grit. 

 Feed four times a day, all they will eat up clean. 



After the fourth day, wheat bran, 3 parts, corn 

 meal, 1 part; low-grade flour, 1 part; 5 per cent of 

 fine meat scraps and 3 per cent of fine grit. Feed four 

 times a day. For green feed give finely cut green 

 clover, rye, or cabbage. 



When the ducks are three weeks old reduce to three 

 feeds a day, and make the mash of equal parts of 

 corn meal, wheat bran, and low-grade flour, 10 per 

 cent of meat scraps, and 3 per cent of grit. 



From six weeks old until the ducks are ready for 

 market give the following: corn meal, 2 parts; bran, 

 1 part; low-grade flour, 1 part; 10 per cent meat scrap, 

 and 3 per cent of grit. 



Xo. 49 Weber Bros.' Method of Feeding: 



I FOR BREEDING DUCKS 



Equal parts of corn meal and shorts, with 10 per 

 cent of meat scrap added. If green feed is not avail- 

 able, add one-fifth of vegetables to the mash. Give 

 raw vegetables at noon two or three times a week. 



*f9 



BROODER HOUSE FOR YOUNG DUCKLINGS 



or on streams often pick the greater part of their living. 

 The Indian Runner ducks are especially adapted to se- 

 curing their living by foraging over meadows. The gen- 

 eral tendency of foraging ducks is to work favorite local- 

 ities quite thoroughly. The Indian Runner, as a result 

 of living for many generations under conditions that made 

 it necessary to forage systematically over considerable 

 areas, has the habit of doing that established to a degree 

 that enables it to get more than most ducks from the 

 range on ordinary meadows. 



The conditions in duck growing are such that the 

 questions relating to feeding have been most thoroughly 

 worked out on the commercial duck farms. Comparative- 

 ly little has been done in this line at agricultural colleges 

 and experiment stations, though the determination of the 

 value of feeding meat to ducks in much larger amounts 

 than had been customary was made at the Geneva (N. Y.) 

 Experiment Station. 



RATIONS FOR DUCKS 

 Xo. 48 James Rankin's Method of Feeding 



I FEEDING FOR BREEDING DUCKS 



Equal parts of corn meal, wheat bran, low-grade 

 flour, about 10 per cent of meat scrap, and about one- 

 fourth of the whole cooked vegetables potatoes, tur- 

 nips, etc. Feed this mixture mornings and evenings, 

 a little more than the birds will eat up clean. After 



From the middle of November when put into the 

 laying houses until the middle of December, feed equal 

 parts of ground oats and shorts with about 5 per cent 

 of meat scrap. Feed this morning and evening, and 

 give green feed at noon. After the middle of December 

 give a full laying ration of equal parts of corn meal 

 and shorts, with about 10 per cent meat scrap added. 



II FOR YOUNG DUCKS 



Equal parts of corn meal, bran, low-grade flour, 

 ground graham bread, rolled oats, 5 per cent of meat 

 scrap, a little oyster shell, and fine grit, and a little 

 finely cut green rye. Feed five times a day until the 

 ducks are three weeks old. 



After three weeks: corn meal, 2 parts; bran, 1 part; 

 middlings, 1 part; 10 per cent of meat scrap, a little 

 oyster shell and finely cut green stuff. This is fed 

 until the ducks are six or seven weeks old, when the 

 following ration should be given: corn meal, 3 parts; 

 low-grade flour, 1 part; meat scraps, % part; 3 per 

 cent of oyster shell. When green stuff is available add 



1 part to the mixture. 



Xo. 50 A. J. Hallock's Method 



I FOR BREEDING DUCKS 



Corn meal, 4 parts; bran, 2 parts; middlings, 1 

 part; oats, 1 part; wheat, 1 part; mixed moist with 

 about equal bulk of cut clover or other green feed, 



II FOR YOUNG DUCKS 



First week: equal parts of corn meal, middlings, 

 crackers or stale bread, and green stuff, with a small 

 handful of sand to a quart of feed. .Occasionally give 

 stale bread soaked in milk for a change. Second week: 

 corn meal, 4 parts; wheat bran, 2 parts; middlings, 2 

 parts; meat scrap, 1 part; sand, about one-third the 

 quantity of green stuff. At about six weeks put ducks 

 in fattening pens and feed the following: corn meal, 



2 parts; bran, middlings, and greens together 1 part; 

 meat scrap, about 12 per cent. 



