146 MRS. BASLEY'S WESTERN POULTRY BOOK 



From seven to 56 days feed equal parts by measure of corn meal, 

 wheat bran and No. 2 flour; 10 per cent of this bulk of beef scrap; 

 10 per cent of coarse sand and about 12 per cent of green stuff. 

 Mix and feed as before. From 56 to 70 days feed 2 parts by measure 

 of corn meal, 1 part wheat bran, 1 part No. 2 grade flour; 10 per 

 cent of this bulk beef scrap ; 12 per cent green stuff. Mix and feed 

 as before. 



It should be remembered that both green stuff and beef scrap 

 are absolutely necessary to the best growth of ducklings, and no 

 one should undertake to raise them without feeding both, as ducks 

 deprived of them never make as good growth as those which are 

 supplied with them. Mix the feed fresh for every day in a trough, 

 and if the weather is hot, mix twice a day. Keep the mixing 

 troughs clean and sweet. Feed in troughs, giving at each feed as 

 much as will be eaten clean before the ducks stop eating, and no 

 more. A little observation will show how much to feed. 



Ducks that are to be reserved for breeders should not be forced 

 as rapidly as those to be sold in market. While the rations for 

 breeding ducks should be rich in protein, they should not be such 

 as to produce a surplus of fat. In raising breeding ducks the ob- 

 ject is to secure large size, which needs a large frame, thick muscles 

 and great vitality. For this reason less corn meal is fed. An ex- 

 cellent ration for ducks reserved for breeders : 



Equal parts by measure, of corn meal, wheat bran and green 

 stuff, with 5 per cent of beef scrap and 5 per cent coarse sand or 

 grit- 

 Ducks are good grasshopper catchers and industrious insect 

 hunters, but they should be given beef scrap regularly, even when 

 they have their liberty. 



Ducks are profitable on the farm, as they are good layers, make 

 weight economically and are always in demand in every market. 

 Such a thing as overstocking the market with ducks has not yet 

 occurred, and many farmers might keep a small breeding flock and 

 raise 100 or more ducks every year to advantage. 



We cannot close the chapter on duck feeding without drawing 

 attention to several important points. 



The first is, that with ducks especially, all food should be given 

 on boards or troughs, at any rate not thrown on the ground, or it 

 will become very foul. When the trough or board is not in use it 

 should be stood on end alongside of the fence, otherwise the birds 

 will get it dirty. 



Fresh water must be provided for ducks, deep enough to im- 

 merse their nostrils, and the vessel must be large enough so that 

 the supply will not run out. Ducks must have water always before 

 them ; to go without even for a few hours is worse to them than 

 missing a meal. One will never make a success with ducks with- 

 out provision for a constant supply of water. 



Another matter that must be attended to is the supply of grit 

 or coarse sand and crushed oyster or clam shells. One has only 



