CHAPTER XIII 



FEEDING DUCKS, GEESE, TURKEYS, PIGEONS AND CAPONS 



The Feeding of Ducks. The kind of ducks kept affects 

 materially the feeding. Pekin ducks are kept primarily 

 for the production of green ducklings and their eggs are 

 used very largely for hatching on duck farms. They 

 should therefore be fed egg-laying rations only during 

 the breeding season or at the time that eggs are desired 

 for hatching. The rest of the year they are carried on 

 maintenance rations. Indian Runner ducks or ducks kept 

 for commercial egg production are fed the egg-laying 

 rations throughout the year. 



Ducks need more green feed and vegetable feeds and 

 are usually given a larger proportion of mash than is fed 

 to hens. Pekin ducks are fed for egg production from 

 about December i until June or early July. From July I 

 to December i they are carried on a maintenance ration 

 in which the amount of mash given to the ducks is ma- 

 terially reduced. 



FEEDING DUCKLINGS 



Ducklings do not need feed until they are from 24 to 

 36 hours old, after which they may be fed five times 

 daily on a mixture of equal parts, by measure, of rolled 

 oats and bread crumbs, with 3 per cent of sharp sand 

 mixed in the feed. About the third day this feed is 



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