POULTRY SECTION. 163 



forcing ration is too much concentrated for the fowl's digestive organs unless they 

 have exercise. An abundance of good, sharp grit must be supplied. The large 

 amount of food consumed requires good grinding material to aid digestion. It is 

 also necessary that plenty of clean, fresh water be kept before them all the time. 



STANDARD WEIGHT. 



Cock Cockerel Hen Pullet 



lbs. lbs. lbs. lbs. 



Light Brahma 12 10 9;4 8 



Dark Brahma and All Cochins 11 9 8;^ 7 



Langshan 10 8 1 6 



Javas and Plymouth Rocks 9'< 8 7'/ 6'4 



All Wyandottes 8^^ 7>< 6^4 S',4 



American Dominique 8 7 6 S 



Orpingtons 10 %\A 8 7 



Minorcas and Spanish 8 6!,-< 6>2 5>^ 



Andalusians 6 S S 4 



Rhode Island Reds 8' < ly'. 6Y2 5 



SELECTION OF BREEDS. 



For meat: Brahma, Cochins and Langshans. 



For general purpose: (Meat and eggs combined.) Plymouth Rock, Wyan- 

 dottes, Rhode Island Reds and 0''pingtons. 



For eggs ; Leghorns, Minorcas, Hamburgs or any of the smaller active breeds. 



DUCKS ON THE FARM. 



The raising of ducks and geese on the farm is a part of the industry that is not 

 appreciated as it should be. There are thousands of farms all over the country 

 which could be made more profitable by raising flocks of well-bred ducks or geese. 

 To a certain extent ducks are more profitable than chickens. They are easier to 

 raise, are less subject to disease, and take but little room. They are not unlike 

 hens in one respect — a few paj' better proportionately than many. 



A duck of the improved breeds will lay from 120 to 160 eggs in a year and 

 usually begins in February. They are more profitable when sold as soon as they 

 reach four or five pounds in wei.ght. After that, feed that is given to ducks that 

 are to be marketed is practically thrown away, as they gain but little in weight. 

 The growth of the duck is more rapid than that of any other fowl known, thus 

 making a broiler early in the season when prices are high. The feathers are always 

 in demand. They can be plucked every six or eight weeks from those ducks that 

 are carried beyond the broiler age. 



Ducks are never troubled with mites or lice unless they are housed with 

 chickens or turkeys. They do not thrive if housed with other poultry. They do not 

 have the same digestive apparatus as chickens, consequently the manner of feeding 

 is dififerent. Ducks require at least two-thirds of their diet in a wet, mash form, 

 while chickens do better on a larger amount of dry grains — hence the difficulty of 

 housing and feeding both kinds of fowls together. 



While ducks take naturally to water, they should have dry quarters and dry 

 bedding at night. The most frequent cause of disease among ducks is filth and 

 dampness. They are naturally more filthy than chickens, hence the necessity of 

 keeping" their house well supplied with clean, dry litter. Ducks rarely lay in nests, 

 but prefer the floor, and in order to keep the eggs clean, the straw must be kept 

 fresh and clean. They generally lay before eight o'clock in the morning, conse- 

 quently it is better to keep them shut in until this time in o.'der to get the eggs 

 and prevent their stealing their nests. 



In mating, one drake to six ducks is about the right proportion. Select breeding 

 stock that has lots of vigor and vitality. The ducks that are used for breeding pur- 

 poses should have free access to some pond or stream of water. Swimming in 

 water is to a duck what scratching is to the hen. It is their exercise, and exercise 

 is necessary to give fertility to the eggs and vigor to the young ducklings. 



The feed for young ducks differs somewhat from that for little chickens in 

 that ducks require more wet food, a good quantity of green stuff, and more animal 



