244 po UL TR r ~ CRAFT. 



Ducklings generally pip the shells thirty-six to forty-eight hours before leav- 

 ing them. If unable to get out themselves after the twenty-eighth day, they 

 may be helped out, and will generally " make a live of it." 



366. Brooding Ducklings. The ducklings are usually left in the 

 machines for twenty-four hours, or longer, before being removed to the brood- 

 ers. In small brooders not more than fifty ducklings should be kept together ; 

 as many as one hundred and fifty may be started in each pen of a large brooder 

 house. Temperature and ventilation should be according to instructions for 

 chicks in \ 260. For the first few days the ducklings must be confined quite 

 near the heat, not allowed to get far from it. In the piped brooder houses 

 they are kept near the hover by boards just long enough to reach across the 

 pens placed at the desired distance from the front of the house, about a foot 

 from it at first, the distance increased a little each day, until at four or five days 

 the ducklings are allowed full run of the pens. Ducklings do not need heat as 

 long as chickens, and at three to six weeks of age, according to the season, are 

 able to do without artificial heat, and may be removed to cold houses. 



367. Feeding Ducklings. The instructions as to methods of feeding 

 incorporated with some of the rations given below, cover the ground quite 

 fully. It is well, however, to impress it on the novice that ducklings must 

 always have water near their food when eating, and that sand or fine grit with 

 the first feeds is essential. 



(1). Rations for Ducklings. (RANKIN). First three or four days : i part hard 

 boiled egg, 3 parts stale bread crumbs ; after that equal parts of corn meal and wheat 

 bran, with boiled potatoes and a little beef scrap. 



(2). Rations for Ducklings. (HALLOCK). T^Vs* week equal parts of corn 

 meal, middlings, crackers or stale bread, and green stuff; mix in a small handful of sand 

 to each quart of food. Give occasionally bread soaked with milk for a change. Second 

 'week 4 parts corn meal, 2 parts wheat bran, 2 parts middlings, i part beef scraps, 

 sand ; mix with about one-third the quantity of green stuff. At about six weeks put ducks 

 in fattening pens, and feed meal, the remainder about equal parts of bran, middlings, 

 and greens ; add about 12 per cent of the whole beef scraps. 



(3). Rations for Ducklings. (COOPER). First three or four days soaked bread, 

 or cracker dust, and hard boiled eggs chopped fine, mixed and fed moist. Then feed 

 bran, corn meal, shorts, and a little beef scrap increasing the amount of beef scrap as 

 the ducks grow older mix well and feed moist. Gradually add vegetable food, consist- 

 ing of boiled roots, turnips, potatoes, etc., or green oats, rye, corn fodder, or clover cut 

 fine as possible in a feed cutter; mix the roots and grass with the feed. A growing duck 

 may be fed one part green food to two parts grain mixture to get a large frame. The 

 last two weeks before marketing shorten up the green food, and give more corn. Too 

 much green food makes the duck soft and flabby, and injures its sale. By fattening on 



