NATIONAL CITY, CALIFORNIA 31 



The brooders and brooding systems used for chickens give good re- 

 sults in rearing ducklings. Ducklings do not require as high temperatures 

 as chickens, and very loose hovers are generally used. 



FEEDING DUCKLINGS 



Ducklings do not need feed until they are from twenty-four to thirty- 

 six 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 three per 

 cent of sharp sand mixed in the feed. About the third day this feed is 

 changed to equal parts bread, rolled oats, bran, and corn meal; then after 

 the seventh day to three parts of bran, one part each of low-grade wheat 

 flour and of corn meal, ten per cent of green feed, and five per cent of 

 beef scrap, with about three per cent of sand or grit in all of the rations. 



Feed four times daily after the seventh day until the ducklings are two 

 or three weeks old, when they need be fed only three times daily. After 

 the ducklings are a week old the grit or sand may be fed either in the 

 mash or in a hopper, but the common practice is to feed grit in all duck 

 rations. Beef scrap is not usually fed until the ducks are a week old, w y hen 

 about five per cent is added to the ration, which amount is gradually in- 

 creased to fifteen per cent by the end of the third week. They should also 

 be given a good-range where grass and running w r ater are available; if con- 

 fined to bare yards, considerable green feed and vegetables should be fed. 



The ducklings to be marketed should be fattened for two weeks be- 

 fore killing on a ration made of three parts, by weight, of corn meal, two 

 parts of low-grade flour or middlings, one part of bran, one-half part of 

 beef scrap, with three per cent grit and ten per cent green feed. Feed this 

 mash three times daily, or use a mash of three parts corn meal, one part 

 low-grade wheat flour, one part bran, five per cent beef scrap, and three 

 per cent oyster shell, with the green feed and grit added. The green feed 

 is sometimes left out of the ration during the last seven days of fattening, 

 as it tends to color the meat and may produoe a slightly flabby rather than 

 a firm flesh; however, it is easier to keep the ducklings in good feeding 

 condition on a mash containing green feed. Boiled fish may replace the 

 beef scrap, but should only be fed up to within two weeks before they 

 are killed, as it may give a fishy taste to their flesh. Fish aids materially 

 in reducing the cost of feeding. 



Green ducks are marketed at from eight to twelve weeks of age, ac- 

 cording to their condition and weight. Two or three per cent of oyster 

 shell is r-ecommended in most fattening rations, but bone ash, ground or 

 cracked bone, or bone meal would appear to be better mineral feeds to 

 add to these mixtures. Celery seed is also used in fattening. 



FEEDING BREEDING AND LAYING DUCKS 



Breeding ducks, if not kept for the production of market eggs, should 

 have a grass range if pqssible after the hatching season is over and be fed 

 sparingly on a mash of one part, by weight, corn meal, two parts bran, one 

 part low-grade wheat flour, one part green feed, eight per cent beef scrap, 

 and three per cent grit, given once or twice daily, w r ith one feed of mixed 

 grains; or the mash may be made of three parts, by measure, corn meal, 

 four parts bran, two parts lo\v-grade wheat flour, three-fourths of a part 

 beef scrap, and two parts of green feed, with a small amount of grit and 

 shell or mineral matter. All rations are by weight unless otherwise stated. 



Cut alfalfa, clover, rye, oats, and corn are used as soiling crops or 

 green feed for ducks and ducklings, and are mixed in the mash. Ducklings 

 and ducks arc usually fed mash on flat feed boards rather than in troughs. 

 The drinking water should be near the feed, so 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 might be advisable, in case many of the 



