POULTRY 



665 



old, Rankin recommends feed as follows : 

 two parts wheat bran, one part corn 

 meal, one part low grade flour, 3 per 

 cent fine grit, 5 per cent of beef scraps. 

 This should be mixed with green food 

 and fed four times a day. When from 

 six to eight weeks old, a mixture made 

 up of equal parts of corn meal, wheat 

 bran and low grade flour, to which 10 

 per cent of beef scraps and 3 per cent of 

 grit is added may be used, and the duck- 

 lings fed three times a day. When eight 

 to 10 weeks old, or during the fattening 

 period, when they are being prepared 

 for market, one-half the rations should 

 consist of corn meal and the other half 

 of equal parts wheat bran, red dog flour, 



is recommended that the troughs or 

 drinking fountains be deep enough so 

 that the ducklings can dip their heads 

 below the eyes. This tends to prevent 

 sore eyes and nose troubles. Fresh water 

 will be required two or three times a day. 

 Ducks require much more water than 

 hens. In feeding they frequently stop 

 and go to the drinking fountain for 

 water, repeating this process several 

 times during the meal. 



BUILDINGS 



Ducklings are usually kept in a warm 

 brooder house until about three weeks 

 old, after which they are removed to a 

 colder house. Where the birds are grown 



Fig. 420 — BREEDING AND LAYING HOMES WITH OUTYARDS OP THE YARDLEY DUCK 



PLANT 



10 per cent beef scraps and 3 per cent 

 grit. Oyster shells are given at this 

 time and less green food than usual. In 

 all cases the mash should be mixed with 

 cold water or milk to a dry, crumbly 

 state; milk is much preferable to water. 

 It should not be fed alone to ducklings, 

 since they are sure to besmear them- 

 selves, resulting in a loss of down and 

 miserable looking, sickly birds. Through- 

 out the early feeding, green food should 

 be given in abundance. Provide green 

 rye, clover, cornstalks, peas and oats 

 mixed, etc, and all cut fine. Boiled 

 turnips and potatoes are also excellent. 



Water for ducks—Water for bathing 

 purposes is not at all essential for ducks, 

 but an abundance of fresh water must 

 be provided for drinking purposes. It 



m winter, some provision will be required 

 for occasional heating of the colder 

 house. Attached to the cold brooder 

 house should be an outside run for feed- 

 ing and watering when the weather mod- 

 erates. Ducks require an abundance of 

 fresh air and will thrive better under 

 outdoor conditions than under confine- 

 ment. When about seven weeks old. 

 ducks are transferred to the growing 

 houses, which are not heated at all, and 

 rapidly fattened until 10 weeks old and 

 then sold. 



Later in the spring, when the weather 

 is warmer, the ducks seldom go inside of 

 houses at night. When the birds weigh 

 from 4 to 5% pounds they are mar- 

 keted. If kept longer, the secondary 

 feathers begin to grow and the gains 



