28 LE55ON5 IN POULTRY KLLPING SECOND SLRILS. 



each medium long in body, deep at keel, with flat backs and short necks; we also see that they 

 have a fbarp, quick eye, and carry themselves well when walking. 



"If we wish to produce large birds we use rather small, active drakes, weighing, say six 

 to seven pounds each. We do not use email drakes constantly year after year, for that 

 would run the stock out. Our favorite mating is of medium sized birds of both sexes the 

 drakes to be as active as possible. This produces good fair sized stock, what we are after for 

 market. 



" Another mating we use quite frequently Is, drakes weighing eight or nine pounds with 

 extra large ducks weighing ten to eleven pounds each. This mating has produced for us extra 

 large ducks of both sexes." 



Feeding the Breeding Stock. 



Ducks are fed practically all soft food. A number of growers have at different times tried 

 giving hard grain as to hens, but generally the result has been to curtail the production of eggs. 

 Herewith are given the rations for breeding stock recommended by some of the leading 

 ^rowers : 



Ration I. " Equal parts of corn meal, wheat bran, and low grade flour, with about twelve or 

 fifteen per cent of animal food. One-fourth of this food should be composed of 

 Vegetables cooked say, small potatoes, turnips, etc., with all the green rye and 

 refuse cabbage they will eat. Feed this mixture mornings and evenings, giving 

 a little corn, wheat, 'and oats at noon. Feed all the birds will eat up clean and no 

 more.'' JAMES KAXKIN. 



Ration II. " Equal parts corn meal and shorts with ten per cent beef scraps added. If 

 green food is not available, add one-fifth cooked vegetables to the mash. Give 

 raw vegetables at noon two or three times a week." WEBER BROS. 



Ration III. " One-fourth corn meal, one-fourth bran, one-eighth broken crackers, one-eighth 

 gluten meal, one-eighth low grade flour, one-eighth beef scraps. This mixture 

 makes two-thirds of the mash, the other third being scalded green clover cut 

 fine, and boiled potatoes mashed. The grain feed is mixed dry at first, and 

 then the clover and potatoes added, and the whole mixed with hot water and fed 

 warm. Feed all they will eat up clean with a relish. Allow no food to stand 

 before them at feeding times." CURTISS BROS. 



Ration IV. "Two parts bran, one part Indian meal, two parts cut clover or other green 

 food. Ten to twelve per cent of the whole to be best quality of beef scraps." 

 POLLARD. . 

 Ration V. "Two parts clover heads, boiled, two parts corn meal, two parts middlings, 



two parts bran, one part ground bone." JVlcFETRiDGE. 



The food for ducks may be fed either cooked, scalded, or simply wet with warm or cold 

 water, but it is advisable to use the same method continuously, and not indifferently and 

 indiscriminately. 



It is of greatest importance that both animal food and green food be liberally supplied. 

 Ducks are hearty feeders, and, as when laying a duck lays almost daily, she must be well fed 

 and with a good substantial ration. Water for drinking must be constantly accessible, and It 

 should be near the feed troughs, lor ducks wash their food down with water, and may choke 

 if not provided with it. Grit and shell should be constantly accessible. Ducks can be started 

 hiving quite readily in early winter by feeding meat heavily in the mash, and by keeping them 

 confined to the house on raw and stormy days. They will stay outdoors by preference, even, in 

 cold stormy weather, but may not begin laying if allowed to follow their inclination in this. 



The floors of the pens should be bedded with coarse hay, straw, or leaves. Nest boxes are 

 seldom used. The duck will scoop out a nest for herself in a corner or at the side of the pen, 

 and duck growers agree that eggs are less likely to be broken when the ducks are left to them- 

 selves in nesting than if nest boxes are provided. Ducks lay very early in the morning, mostly 

 before daylight, though occasionally a duck will lay as late as eight or nine o'clock in th-e morn- 

 ing. If they have liberty they are just as likely to drop the eggs about the yards as to leave 



