Money in Broilers and Squabs. > 93 



imenting with many kinds, I have decided that the best is a mixture 

 of cornmeal and wheat bran from first to last, in different propor- 

 tions, according to age. The first feed should be equal parts of the 

 above with a liberal allowance of course builders' sand thrown in 

 and all mixed thoroughly with water, the temperature of the house 

 and not as cold as ice. This should be fed about five times a day, 

 but only as much as they will eat up clean, and when they are 

 actually hungry. If they do not come up to the board with a rush 

 and eat ravenously, then wait a longer time for the next feed. Or, 

 in other words, never under any circumstances overfeed; it is bet- 

 ter to feed them short." 



Geo. A. Palmer, in Poultry (English) gives the method of fat- 

 tening in his country : Ducklings will fatten much quicker and bet- 

 ter in wire frames than at liberty, and on no account should they 

 be allowed water enough to swim in. The wire frames are 3 feet 

 high and 12 feet square, and can be moved daily on to fresh clean 

 •grass. The feed should be well varied. Bone meal is an essential 

 and may be mixed with sharps. Barleymeal anti milk, cooked 

 v^rheat, groats and rice will give thjm an excellent start, and green 

 food should not be forgotten. Chopped dandelion, onion, lettuce, 

 may be mixed with soft food, and a fair proportion of meat may be 

 given. Greaves broken up fine and mixed with boiling water will 

 answer very well. When cheapness of production is considered be- 

 fore quality of meal, maize may be used freely at the latter end of 

 the 8 or 9 weeks. In any case feed chiefly upon the lighter foods at 

 first, and get on to stronger toward the close, finishing chiefly upon 

 iarleymeal and maize. Wheat may be given chiefly as the hard 

 grain, and a little buckwheat and hemp seed will prove useful addi- 

 tions. But remember that milk, when obtainable, will give a great 

 return ; that grit is required just as much for duckling as for 

 chicken ; that bonemeal has no substitute ; that the feeds should be 

 often, early and late, with clean drinking water before them, and 

 there will be no difficulty in getting the ducks off in the first 

 feather, and, what is of more importance, at a profit. 



Col. E. O. Roessle, in Country Gentleman, says: "Many ex- 

 periments have been made in feeding ducklings. I have tried many 

 ■different methods myself, but there is one on which I have settled 

 that has given me the best results. It is simply cornmeal and bran 

 from start to finish, from hatch to killing time. The proportions of 

 course are changed as the duckling grows. The meal and bran 

 should be made into a moist mash, not sloppy, but more moist than 

 IS used for chickens. A feed board should be used, rather than 

 risking the chance of their trampling the food in the earth. To 

 every mess of mash made, a certain proportion of coarse black or 

 builders' sand should be added. For example, to a 12-quart pailful 

 of mash add a half-pint cupful of sand; stir it well into the mash, 

 so that it is mixed thoroughly." 



Feed with a strong smeir or taste, such as fish or meat, will 

 more or less lend its taint to the flesh of the duckling. 



