The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-09-28
FEEDING STOCK DUCKS
A Number Of Things to BE Obse.seu
If You Are to Have
Ready For Early Market
NV w, r. Gilbert.)

i Gu Gil
ket to have stock birds in full lay p3
| the end Of October or the hrst o.
November-that is, before the SeFere
weather sets in.
In order to accomplish this the
feeding during September and Octopel
must be carefully attended to anc
the nutritious rather than fatten1ne
food be provided for the bros.
By Thu time last years oucks
should have quite overcome the mon
and should have their full compile
ment Of feathers.
AS far as possible an abundance OF
exercise should be flowed the bros
and this can only satisfactory pc ar
ranged when a free range is provided
The chief danger Of cOnfln1ng them
is that under such conditions they
are liable to add on flesh too quickly,
and on no account should stock ducks
be fat.
The difficulty can. of course. be
overcome by feeding sparingly upon
somewhat bulky foods.
Two meals a day will be found quite
sufficient, one the first thing in the
morning, and the other about $3.50
or in the afternoon.
Soft food should be provided for
the morning meal and a mixture dur-
ing this and the succeeding month
which we have employed with success
is two parts Of the middlings, n OF
the barley meal, one Of bran and one
of brewers grains.
At first there may be a slight diff
Guilty in ~persuading the birds to eat
the last mentioned, but they speedily
become accustomed to the flavor and
eat it readily.
A mixture such as this will keep
the ducks in good store condition and
will assist egg production at the proper
time. No hard or fast rule can be
laid down as to the actual amount
Of food to be supplied, as this varies
with the breed and the conditions un-
der which the birds are being kept
and with the season.
The only thing to do is to periodi-
cally examine them. and if too fat re
duce the quantity of food; if too lean
increase it.
The mash should be given to the
birds not in q sloppy but a crumbly,
moist condition. In the former state
too much unnecessary water has to
be taken into the system.
Tho soft food should always be
supplied warm.
For the afternoon feeding either
hard grain or mash may be supplied.
Personally I prefer the latter, but
many breeders are in favor Of the
former.
o"i -OS O. -
the best or the purpose, which should
be scattered upon the drinking water.
Good sample oats must be used, as
otherwise there is too much hus If
mash is employed-and the two may
be fed on alternate days-the same
mixture as that for the morning feed
will answer well.
If the birds are becoming rather
too fat, the proportion Of bran should
be increased n the barley meal
decreased
The soft food should always be fed
from a trough, otherwise so much is
trampled on and made unfit for con-
sumption.
A little lean meat is very beneficial
for stock ducks and should be mixed
with the morning feed for mash. Gran
ulated meat, or butchers refuse, boiled
and chopped up, answers the purpose
admirably.
The latter gives equally as good re-
suits as the former and is considerably
cheaper. Green food should be given
literally to the ducks when they are
being able to obtain sufficient for
themselves.
During the winter months. when
green food is scarce. turnips, swedes,
mangels or potatoes form an excellent
substitute.
The ducks at liberty can Of course
procure all the drinking water they
require for themselves, but those in
runs must be well supplied.
It is ~unadvisable to allow them to
drink a large quantity Immediately
after eating. as this causes a large por-
ton Of the food to pass straight
through the body.
a an our after they have eaten,
however, they may have all they want.