POULTRY FEEDS AND FEEDING 



that the ducks can eat and drink at about the same time. 

 Water fountains for ducks should be deep enough to 

 allow the latter to get their bills into the water to wash 

 sand or grit out of their nostrils. 



Wet or moist mashes are used almost exclusively, but 

 as they are more forcing than whole grains it would be 

 advisable, in case many of the eggs are infertile, to feed 

 more whole or cracked grains and less mash to ducks 

 during the breeding season. 



FEEDING GEESE 



Geese are raised generally where they have a good 

 grass range or pasture, and, except during the winter 

 months, usually pick up most of their living. The pasture 

 may be supplemented with light feeds of home-grown 

 grains or wet mash daily, the necessity and quantity of 

 this feed depending on the condition of the pasture. Dur- 

 ing the winter, when pasture is no longer available, they 

 should have both grain and roughage, but great care 

 should be taken not to overfeed the breeders so that they 

 will become too fat, with the consequent result of poor 

 fertility and unsatisfactory hatches. 



Oats make a desirable grain feed for breeding geese, 

 but a limited proportion of corn, wheat, or barley may 

 be added for variety. The greater part of the feed, how- 

 ever, should be made up of roughage, such as vegetables, 

 clover, or alfalfa hay, chopped-corn stover, or silage. 

 Silage is an ideal feed if it does not contain too much 

 corn and is perfectly free from mold. 



198 



