Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-06-28

Atlanta, Ca: | have tried to raise
some Indian Runner Ducks but have
had poor success. When took them
off l put them on some sand and
gave them some water. l fixed the
water so they could not get wet.
fed them on Spratt's No. 8, scalded
and then cooled. This morning /
found four dead and yesterday MORN
ing / found two dead. ] have two
that have black scabs GOV ering their
heads but I pulled this off and they
go all right for a few days until an
other seab comes and l pull it off.
The beak is not sore. I fed them
Hastings mash wet with a little grit
in it after they were three weeks old.
/ have some little chicks just
Matched this month that are doing
better than the early ones / Matched
VIII they make as large chickens as
The earlier Matched? ,.- ts ea
Yours truly,
ALBERT JENNINGS.
ANSWER.
II is possible that the feed that you
are giving your little ducks sticks to
the beak which causes the trouble
YOU are having. They should have
sufficient water to cleanse their beaks
while eating and after each meal.
Sometimes mud will dry in their beaks
and cause the trouble, and If they
are fed milk while too young It will
stick to the downy feathers. Spratt's
No. is a good feed for them but
they should have some little chick
grain dampened once day after
they are one week old i'm addition to
the soft feed given them.
Chickens Matched in June will be
just as large as any. If you feed them
just as we'll and after they are feath-
cred give them a free range.
Atlanta, Gavin you kindly tell me
whether turnip tops, radish tops,
Dwarf Essex rape, collard leaves.
cabbage, Swiss chard and the like
are good egg producers? have heard
that turnip tops will make hens stop
laying What is your opinion on some
OF the best green foods for eggs
which may be grown i'm our gardens2
Thanking you.
Yours very truly,
w. w. GAINES.
ANSWER.
All of the green foods mentioned
in your letter are good for chickens,
especially the Dwarf Essex rape, col
lard leaves and Swiss chard. Turnip
tops will not stop chickens from lay
ing and are good for them. If they
stop laying it is from some other
cause and not from. eating turnip tops.
Swiss chard and rape are two of the
quickest growing green foods that
can be planted in the garden for
chickens. and win make an abundance
of food If you will be careful and not
cut them too close I'm cutting the
tops or for the chickens. Green food
alone, of course, will not furnish suf-
ficient food elements to produce eggs,
but to get large supply of eggs
chickens should have great quanti-
ty of green food and without il you
can not keep their system in good
shape and produce a large number of
eggs the year around. Green cut alfal-
IA, or even dry alfalfa hay is one
of the greatest egg producing foods
/ know Of. You could easily plant
a few rows in your gardens the
same as you would turnips and by
not cutting it too close until It gets
a good start IL would give you an
abundance of food every year with
out having to replant.
GAINESVILLE, Ga: viii you please
tell me what is the matter with my
Indian Runner Ducklings? I have
followed your instructions In regard
to feeding. except that the shorts and
bran were not pure and instead of
light bread soaked in milk, I used
corn bread. When about six weeks
old their legs became weak and they
sit while eating. Is Aunt Patsy mash
good for old and young ducks?
Please give me directions for a
house for 100 grown ducks and will
an acre of land sodded with grass be
large enough for this many ducks?
Respectfully,
w. +. SMITH. .
ANSWER
1t is very evident that your ducks
have been fed too much rfich feed
and not a balanced ration. Therefore.
their bones have become tender and 4
have not grown I'm strength in pro-
portion to the weight they are carry
ms.
Aunt Patsy food made in a mash Is
a balance ration for yo ing ducks and