344 



POULTRY CULTURE 



A good ration for growing young ducks is equal parts of corn- 

 meal, wheat middlings, wheat bran, meat scrap, and chopped 

 vegetables, unless they can obtain green grass. This feed 

 should be fed crumbly or slightly moistened, and can be kept 

 before them all the time for the first few days, while for the 

 next two or three weeks they may be fed four times a day. 



Where skimmed milk is obtainable it may be used to moisten 

 the feed. In this case onlj^ one-half of the amount of meat 

 scrap would be necessary. Be sure and see that they have 

 water before they commence to eat. Never allow feed to sour. 

 Sour feed is likely to- kill the young ducks and is dangerous for 

 old ones. The water should be deep enough in the dishes so 

 that they can run their beaks in full length to clean the feed 



Fig. 113. — A cheap and convenient duck house. The floor is dirt and 

 level, and covered 6 inches deep with clean straw on which the ducks roost. 



out of their nostrils, or they may become clogged with the 

 mash and make breathing difficult. 



The breeding ducks may be allowed to run to water part of 

 the day, and should be fed morning and night. The mash may 

 consist of 15 parts cornmeal, 10 parts wheat middlings, 10 

 parts wheat bran, 10 parts meat scrap, 10 parts alfalfa meal or 

 chopped green feed, and, during the laying season, corn at 

 noon. Grit and shell should always be kept before them. 

 The ducks are usually sold as soft roasters when about ten 

 weeks of age, as they do not gain much in weight after that 

 time and they eat a large amount of feed. This will soon 

 prevent any profit. Save the feathers — they bring a good 

 price. You can expect to obtain about 1 pound of feathers 



