Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1907-06-27

VI kIIts WIIUOuI wuISh thS U.s. hhe~A
from indigestion. Small pebbles, coarse
sand. and pieces OF broken crockery, and
smashed up burnt bone all aid in digest
ing their food. This IL especially re-
quired prior I their going to roost.
There is no necessity to boil any grain;
they are better without 1t and prefer the
barn food to that of a sloppy nature.
The 50. called "egg producers" would,
II fed in sufficient quantities, in some
cases assist egg production, but at what
a cost The best egg. producer 10 insect
life, and when not available in sufficient
quantities, add the best substitute. that
is, beef and mutton scraps, sheep liver
soaked in cold water over night, and
then lightly boiled. Use the liquid for
mixing the morning meal, and avoid
making it pasty, but use the hands we'll
in mixing it hard and friable. Curded
milk when available should be a
magnificent aid to egg-production and
when topping turkeys of for market,
give them az much as they will take, as
it soltens and whitens the flesh. The
flesh Of milk fed turkeys is as tender as
that Of 6.week-old chickens.-H. v.
Hawins, In American Cultivator.
An article upon the Matching snd rear.
ing of ducks will not Ike out Of place at
this time, and may be helpful to some
one. Personally I have had very little
experience with ducks, SO will quote
somewhat from successful breeders ex.
perience. However. we have some little
beauties of the Indian Runner variety
that are doing fine, growing just like
weeds.
I wonder sometimes why people do not
grow more ducks and less chickens. The
Indian Runners are prolific layers, il fed
and grown properly, will begin to lay
when five monthe old, and lay the whole
year round, except during the moult.
They are never troubled with lice or
mites owing to the oily nature of their
skins. require very little extra housing in
winter, just a single walled house is suf-
%icient, and their eggs always bring more
per dozen than hen eggs. If their house
is dry with plenty Of litter on the floor
they vii, thrive no matter how cold it is.
AS layers the Indian Runners surpass
all breeds Of hens. are ready for the mar.
ket at nine weeks Of age, are easily fat.
tened at any time, and require no water
except for drinking.
Duck eggs are considered more diff
cult TO hatch in an incubator than hen
eggs. as they seem more sensitive at test.
ing time and also require more moisture,
and the heat must be kept regular.
They should he sprinkled every day with
tepid water from the fifth to the twenty
9Th day at which time they should have
an extra dose. A whisk broom dipped
in the water twice at each time is best.
During exclusion the floor of incubator
room should he sprinkled with boiling
water and the door of the room kept
shut.
II a brooder IL used he sure to have the
heat at least at g degrees and it Is very
important to keep the heat even. Ducks
do not require nearly NO much heat a.
|. chickens after the first few days. or do
they need artificial heating nearly 81
| long, hut they need plenty Of fresh air,
and mus, he supplied with it at al times
!. Over.heating. overlooking and chill
Z ing are the three things TO Ike guarded
against In raising ducks, over heating
, when the br0oder il used is the most
|, dangerous. IL the nights are at all sum
. merry they do not need heat after the
I frs, four weeks and not much during the
fourth week, they never pile up and
I smother each other like chickens do, but
+, weave themselves into u cory little mat
and their little bodies which are regular
E little furnaces, produce their own heat
, When reared with hens, Of course the
y heating matter need not be considered,
+ a., one needs is to feed properly, and
( every time you look at your ducks yot
will s'e they have grown since You look
= I'll at them last.
= They should not Ike fed until at leas'
e n. hours old and then Just a light feed
= There are several different methods O.
. AsesGpg. al oi which arc. good. We fine
THAI equal parts Of com meal. grount
H. w,,sst. GA, ,gsa,,, with about FIVE Per cen