244 POULTRY-CRAFT. 
Ducklings generally pip the’shells thirty-six to forty-eight hours before leav- 
ing them. If unable to get out themselves after the twenty-eighth day, they 
may be helped out, and will generally ‘‘ make a live of it.” 
366. Brooding Ducklings.—The ducklings are usually left in the 
machines for twenty-four hours, or longer, before being removed to the brood- 
ers. In small brooders not more than fifty ducklings should be kept together ; 
as many as one hundred and fifty may be started in each pen of a large brooder 
house. Temperature and ventilation should be according to instructions for 
chicks in § 260. For the first few days the ducklings must be confined quite 
near the heat, not allowed to get far from it. In the piped brooder houses 
they are kept near the hover by boards just long enough to reach across the 
pens placed at the desired distance from the front of the house, about a foot 
from it at first, the distance increased a little each day, until at four or five days 
the ducklings are allowed full run of the pens. Ducklings do not need heat as 
long as chickens, and at three to six weeks of age, according to the season, are 
able to do without artificial heat, and may be removed to cold houses. 
367. Feeding Ducklings.—The instructions as to methods of feeding 
incorporated with some of the rations given below, cover the ground quite 
fully. It is well, however, to impress it on the novice that ducklings must 
always have water near their food when eating, and that sand or fine grit with 
the first feeds is essential. 
(1). Rations for Ducklings.—(Ranxrn ).— First three or four days:— 1 part hard 
boiled egg, 3 parts stale bread crumbs; after that equal parts of corn meal and wheat 
bran, with boiled potatoes and a little beef scrap. 
(2). Rations for Ducklings.— (Hatiockx).— First week—equal parts of corn 
meal, middlings, crackers or stale bread, and green stuff; mix in a small handful of sand 
to each quart of food. Give occasionally bread soaked with milk for a change. Second 
week — 4 parts corn meal, 2 parts wheat bran, 2 parts middlings, 1 part beef scraps,— 
sand; mix with about one-third the quantity of green stuff. At about sx weeks put ducks 
in fattening pens, and feed § meal, the remainder about equal parts of bran, middlings, 
and greens; add about 12 per cent of the whole beef scraps. 
(3). Rations for.Ducklings.—(CoorEr).— First three or four days— soaked bread, 
or cracker dust, and hard boiled eggs chopped fine, mixed and fed moist. Then feed 
bran, corn meal,shorts, and a little beef scrap — increasing the amount of beef scrap as 
the ducks grow older — mix well and feed moist. Gradually add vegetable food, consist- 
ing of boiled roots, turnips, potatoes, etc., or green oats, rye, corn fodder, or clover cut 
fine as possible in a feed cutter; mix the roots and grass with the feed. A growing duck 
may be fed one part green food to two parts grain mixture to get a large frame. The 
last two weeks before marketing shorten up the green food, and give more corn. Too 
much green food makes the duck soft and flabby, and injures its sale. By fattening on 
